3D printing factory developed for NASA in space
image © tethers unlimited inc

 

 

NASA has announced today their innovative advanced concepts (NIAC) program has awarded tethers unlimited (TUI) a $500,000 phase II contract to continue
 development of its ‘spiderfab’ technologies for 3D print fabrication of components in space. in the phase II effort, TUI will develop and demonstrate methods to enable additive manufacturing of high performance support structures and integration of functional elements such as reflectors and antennas. in parallel with the NIAC effort, TUI is working under a NASA small business innovation research (SBIR) contract to develop a ‘trusselator’ device that will fabricate truss structures to enable in space construction of large solar arrays. the ‘spiderfab’ architecture adapts additive manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing and robotic assembly technologies to enable space systems to fabricate and integrate large components such as antennas, solar arrays, sensor masts, and shrouds on orbit. currently, large spacecraft components are built on the ground, and are designed to fold up to fit within a rocket shroud and then deploy on orbit. this approach is very expensive, and the size of these components is limited by the volume of available shrouds.
 

 

3D printing spiderfab factory in space developed for NASA

 

 

‘on orbit fabrication allows the material for these critical components to be launched in a very compact and durable form, such as spools of fiber or blocks of polymer, so they can fit into a smaller, less expensive launch vehicle.’ says dr. rob hoyt, TUI’s ceo and chief  scientist. ‘once on orbit, the ‘spiderfab’ robotic fabrication systems will process the material to create extremely large structures that are optimized for the space environment. this radically different approach to building space systems will enable us to create antennas and arrays that are tens to hundreds of times larger than are possible now, providing higher power, higher bandwidth, higher resolution, and higher sensitivity for a wide range of space missions.’