NASA bets on spacecraft that can 3D print and self-assemble in orbit
This will allow us to make larger craft since we wouldn't have to worry about earth's gravity well.
Read the rest of the article at the link.Putting a satellite in space is news of the past, but launching a spacecraft that can 3-D print and self-assemble is a story of the future. NASA is now betting on the technology being ready for prime time as early as 2022.Last week, the space agency announced that they had awarded a $73.7 million contract to a startup company called Made In Space, Inc. The money will fund a test of the concept using a small spacecraft, called Archinaut One, in low-Earth orbit.
Building stuff in space
Made In Space is a California-based startup that specializes in developing manufacturing tech to be used in space — a task easier said than done.
Space isn’t the friendliest of environments for building things (or doing anything, for that matter). For starters, the average temperature in outer space is -457.87 degrees Fahrenheit (-270.15 degrees Celcius), and there is little gravity or pressure.
But back in 2014, Made In Space made history by 3-D printing the first object ever produced in space. And since 2016, they have been running a permanent manufacturing unit inside the International Space Station, dubbed the Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF). Since its installation, this on-demand hardware store has built over 200 tools, devices and components via 3-D printing.
Just like astronauts can survive the harsh conditions of space thanks to their protective suits, the AMF still functions in space because its parts are encased, letting it print like it would on Earth. AMF can print using a variety of materials, including an aerospace-grade polymer commonly found in spacecraft and rocket parts. And earlier this year, the company also saw its Refabricator installed on ISS, which can use recycled plastic to 3-D print new parts.
A self-assembling spacecraft