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SAN FRANCISCO – NASA has awarded a $ 73.7 million contract to Made In Space for the additive manufacturing of 10-meter beams aboard Archinaut One, a small satellite scheduled for launch in 2022.
"As manufacturing progresses, each beam will deploy two solar panels producing up to five times more energy than traditional solar panels on spacecraft of similar size," NASA said in a statement. press release of July 12th.
Archinaut One is expected to be launched in New Zealand by 2022 on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket.
"Robotic manufacturing and assembly in space are undeniable assets and fundamental capabilities for future exploration of space," said Jim Reuter, NASA Space Associate Administrator. Technology Mission Directorate, in a statement. "By taking the lead in the development of this transformative technology, the United States will retain its leadership in space exploration as we move forward with astronauts on the moon and then on Mars."
The contract announced on July 12 extends the work of Archinaut. Made In Space began in 2016. Since then, Made In Space has continued to improve its Archinaut technology and to prove that the 3D printed material it produces is durable enough to work in the space.
Made In Space Archinaut's partners include Northrop Grumman, NASA Ames and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
A technology like Archinaut has important applications for future space missions, as it could lead to the construction in orbit of large communication antennas, space telescopes, power systems and reflectors, the statement said. from NASA.
As part of the Tipping Point program, NASA is providing funding to companies working on technologies that use both NASA and commercial space applications. Companies pay at least 25% of the cost of these public-private partnerships.
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