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NASA’s In-Space Manufacturing Project: Update on Manufacturing Technologies and Materials to Enable More Sustainable and Safer ExplorationNASA’s In-Space Manufacturing (ISM) project seeks to develop the materials, processes, and manufacturing technologies needed to provide an on-demand manufacturing capability for deep space exploration missions. The ability to manufacture and recycle some parts on demand rather than launch them from earth has the potential to reduce logistics requirements on long duration missions and enhance crew safety. With the launch of the first 3D printer (built and operated by Made in Space through a Small Business Innovative Research – SBIR -- contract) to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2014, the ISM project demonstrated the feasibility of operating an on-demand manufacturing system in a microgravity environment. This paper will provide an update on recent advancements in ISM under three key technology areas: manufacturing, recycling, and development of a design database. ISM continues to pursue development of manufacturing technologies for space applications and use the ISS as a critical test bed to prove out these technologies before deploying them on next generation exploration systems. Activities under this focus area include: characterization of materials manufactured using the Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF), the second generation commercial 3D-printer on ISS, also owned and operated by Made in Space; development of prototype payloads for metal manufacturing through phase II SBIR contracts with Tethers Unlimited, Made in Space, and Ultra Tech Machinery; development of a multi-material fabrication laboratory capable of processing metals and providing inspection of manufactured parts through a Broad Agency Announcement (Techshot, Interlog, and Tethers Unlimited); an in-line sensing system for ISM platforms; and development of higher strength feedstocks for 3D polymer printers. In the area of recycling, the Tethers Unlimited Refabricator payload (an integrated 3D printer and recycler for ULTEM 9085) launched to ISS in November 2018 and began operating in early 2019. This payload represents the first demonstration of on-orbit recycling; down massed specimens will assess material degradation in the polymer over multiple recycling cycles to define limits on material re-use. Other work in the recycling area includes development of common use materials intended to be reused and recycled on space missions (Tethers Unlimited and Cornerstone Research Group) and a sterilization capability for multiple-use materials (ERASMUS from Tethers Unlimited). Concurrent with manufacturing technology and materials development work is creation of a design database, a curated list of parts that can be manufactured using the suite of In-Space Manufacturing capabilities.
Document ID
20190033333
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Tracie Prater
(Marshall Space Flight Center Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, United States)
Jennifer Edmunson
(Jacobs (United States) Dallas, Texas, United States)
Mike Fiske
(Jacobs (United States) Dallas, Texas, United States)
Frank Ledbetter
(Manufacturing Technical Solutions, Inc. (MTS) Huntsville, AL)
Curtis Hill
(Jacobs (United States) Dallas, Texas, United States)
Meyya Meyyappan
(Ames Research Center Mountain View, California, United States)
Christopher Roberts
(Marshall Space Flight Center Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, United States)
Lawrence Huebner
(Langley Research Center Hampton, Virginia, United States)
Phil Hall
(Marshall Space Flight Center Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, United States)
Niki Werkheiser
(Marshall Space Flight Center Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, United States)
Date Acquired
December 1, 2019
Publication Date
October 21, 2019
Subject Category
Space Processing
Report/Patent Number
IAC-19.D3.2B.5
M19-7713
Meeting Information
Meeting: 70th International Astronautical Congress (IAC)
Location: Washington, DC
Country: US
Start Date: October 21, 2019
End Date: October 25, 2019
Sponsors: International Astronautical Federation (IAF)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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