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Above – ground manufacturing is expected to make a giant leap in the next few years.
NASA awarded $ 73.7 million to California-based start-up Made In Space for "Archinaut"spacecraft assembly technology an orbital test.
The "Archinaut One" demonstration vessel will be launched into low Earth orbit aboard a Rocket Lab Electron booster at the earliest in 2022, NASA officials said Friday (July 12th). Once at altitude, Archinaut One will 3D print two beams of 32 feet (10 meters) in length, which will extend on either side of the probe.
Related: 3D printing in space: a photo gallery
Over time, these beams will deploy solar panels capable of generating five times more energy than traditionally flown panels of similar size boats, NASA officials said.
A successful race by Archinaut One could lead to some great things on the road, they added.
"Robotic manufacturing and assembly in space are decisive factors and fundamental capabilities for future exploration of space," said Jim Reuter, deputy administrator of the Direction de l'Espace. NASA's Space Technology Mission. said in a statement. "By taking the lead in the development of this transformational technology, the United States will maintain its leadership in space exploration as we progress with astronauts on the moon and then on Mars."
Made In Space has been developing Archinaut for several years now under a NASA "Tipping Point Technologies" contract. Today's announcement marks the beginning of phase two of this contract, officials said.
Archinaut offers a 3D printer and robotic manipulator arms. Together, this technology will ultimately enable the machine to perform a wide variety of unusual tasks, ranging from satellite repair and upgrades (with ultra-powerful solar panels, for example) to the construction of satellites. 'huge structures such as space telescopes,' said representatives of Made In Space.
Archinaut has already passed several important tests here on Earth. In 2017, for example, its The 3D printer has produced several structures in a thermal vacuum chamber that imposes temperatures and vacuum of space.
This room did not cause microgravity, but other Made In Space technologies have been proven in such conditions. The company has built and launched two 3D printers at the International Space Station (ISS), for example, and another Made In Space machine installed on board the orbiting laboratory has manufactured a valuable fiber optic cable called ZBLAN.
Made In Space sees a commercial promise in the ZBLAN production outside the Earth, and the work of the ISS puts the economic viability of this idea to the test.
Mike Wall's book on the search for extraterrestrial life, "Over there"(Grand Central Publishing, 2018, illustrated by Karl Tate), is out now. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us on twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.
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