| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2023 Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF Symp 2023)
|
| Symposium
|
2023 Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF Symp 2023)
|
| Presentation Title |
NASA Technology Maturation Plan for In-space Manufacturing of Metals |
| Author(s) |
Christopher Roberts, Frank Ledbetter, Jennifer Jones, Zachary Courtright, Alexander Blanchard |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Christopher Roberts |
| Abstract Scope |
As the International Space Station’s (ISS) life approaches its end, NASA intends to travel back to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence, paving a pathway towards Mars. Current logistics strategies will need to be fundamentally changed to support extended missions, and on-demand manufacturing enables reduced operations cost and increased long term sustainability. The In-Space Manufacturing project at Marshall Space Flight Center is developing additive polymers, metals, and electronics manufacturing technologies to enable a sustainable presence on the Moon and enable long duration transit missions. This presentation will provide an overview of current technologies being developed for demonstration aboard the ISS, the unique constraints when developing AM technologies for spaceflight applications, and a technology maturation plan for in space manufacturing. An emphasis will be placed on the FabLab payload which will demonstrate multi-materials printing, including bound metal additive manufacturing and thick film electronics manufacturing, aboard the ISS in 2025. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Definite: Post-meeting proceedings |