NASA will fund 3D printing projects in the upcoming era of space exploration

China3D printingNet July 9th, driven by lunar exploration, space tourism, spacecraft manufacturing and orbital infrastructure, space agencies and private companies around the world have formulated ambitious future space plans. People’s interest in space exploration is growing, providing new opportunities for scientific and technological research to deal with some of the challenges that mankind is about to face in orbit.With disruptive technologies (such as additive manufacturing) proving to be critical for a large number of space applications, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recently announced that it will support 273D printingTechnology proposal, which is part of its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. The selected project is part of the 409 technical proposals for the first phase of the program, which will provide $51 million in funding for 312 small businesses in 44 states and Washington, DC.

In order to extend the human presence beyond the Earth’s orbit, NASA is seeking small businesses and research institutions to ensure long-term, innovative and sustainable technologies that have great potential for successful transition to its main mission plan and other commercial markets potential. Since the 1970s, small businesses have created approximately 55% of employment opportunities in the United States and have worked with NASA for decades to stimulate technological innovation to create groundbreaking developments for space research and colonization. In the past two years, NASA has encouraged unconventional and primitive projects to help astronauts land on the moon and establish a sustainable presence on it within four years, which is the agency’s larger moon-to-mars exploration program Part of the Artemis plan.

“NASA relies on small American companies to develop innovative technologies, which helps us accomplish a variety of tasks,” said Jim Reuter, deputy director of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Agency in Washington. Say. “Whether we are landing Artemis astronauts on the moon, sending the rover to Mars, or developing the next generation of aircraft, our small business partners will play an important role.”



According to the data obtained by the Suomi NPP satellite, NASA images at night by NASA (Source: NASA Earth Observatory / Robert Simmon)

This year, many selected companies will use3D printingTechnology serves as the basis for its projects, from additively manufactured spacecraft thermal protection systems to the creation of AM equipment for the International Space Station (ISS).
The selected proposals showcase technologies designed to benefit human space exploration as well as science, technology and aeronautics. Many innovations still have potential applications on the earth, in the field of healthcare, automotive industry, manufacturing and other fields. The following are some examples of AM projects selected for this year’s SBIR and STTR phase one plan:

Currently, the only operational printing facility on the International Space Station is for plastics, such as ABS and PLA. However, Vistacent, a Louisiana-based startup, proposed to develop a unique multi-material additive manufacturing facility for space manufacturing that uses engineering plastics, complex high-performance fiber-reinforced composite materials, and sintered metal parts. The facility will be based on Fusion Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology, allowing crews on the International Space Station and other potential customers (such as NASA contractors SpaceX, Boeing and Lockheed) to manufacture on-demand parts in orbit.

Another ambitious proposal comes from 3D rocket manufacturer Relativity Space.The startup outlined a kind of3D printingCreate real-time automatic defect detection and marking methods in the application.This startup has adopted its name “Relativistic Space: The Future3D printing“The proposal that 3D technology (such as automatic defect detection) is3D printingThe key to this is in line with NASA’s exploration goals. In turn, this will bring advantages such as on-site manufacturing, on-demand manufacturing of raw materials, manufacturing objects that cannot be launched from the earth, and the ability to design tasks in novel ways to reduce costs.

A team of experts from the University of Delaware and KAI in Texas will use a newly developed additive manufacturing technology called Local In-Plane Thermal Assist (LITA)3D printingTechnology to manufacture thermosetting composites using continuous carbon fiber reinforced high-temperature thermal protection systems. The application will provide services for NASA’s “Orion” and unmanned reentry spacecraft, rocket nozzles for out-of-line landers, and the Space Launch System (SLS).

VRC Metal Systems, the leading developer of innovative cold spray systems, and researchers from South Dakota University of Mining and Technology are advancing the space propulsion grid by developing high-pressure cold spraying into a GRCop-42 (a material developed by NASA) additive manufacturing method The Lun Research Center has shown considerable prospects for the segmented combustion rocket engine cycle (such as the space shuttle main engine). This technology is very suitable for thermal structure technology for aerospace aircraft, and has other potential uses in aerospace manufacturing and 3D metal printing.
Space manufacturing is a top priority for NASA and other commercial space companies, which is why IERUS Technologies of Alabama proposed to study a new type of metal additive manufacturing process called Additive Friction Stir Deposition (AFS-D). , Manufacturing and repairing large structures in the external space environment. The AFS-D process, which is commercially called MELD, can produce a completely dense near-net shape structure under open atmospheric conditions without the need for secondary post-processing. According to IERUS’s proposal, the technology has powerful functions, including the release of almost all metals on the market, the ability to build complex 3D structures without supporting materials, and the on-orbit recovery function, so it is an ideal choice for releasing the potential of space manufacturing.
Focusing on creating advanced laser 3D manufacturing systems, PolarOnyx demonstrated an unprecedented precision laser 3D manufacturing system that relies on additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing and athermal welding to manufacture sub-micron precision telescope structures. At the end of the first phase, PolarOnyx is expected to conduct a proof-of-concept demonstration, while in the second phase, a prototype that is expected to meet the requirements of NASA’s large telescope system. This advanced technology has other potential uses in satellite manufacturing, spacecraft, medical equipment, and biomedical instruments.
For each selection in the first stage, the company will receive up to $125,000 in rewards. SBIR awards are only awarded to small businesses, while STTR awards are only awarded to small businesses that cooperate with non-profit research institutions. Once the first phase of the SBIR and STTR contracts are completed, after six months and 13 months, respectively, NASA plans to select and award the second phase continuous contracts worth several million dollars to award some companies that have previously had second phase contracts . According to the agency, these upcoming awards will further refine a range of technologies related to sustainable lunar exploration, the Artemis program, and the wider U.S. lunar-to-Mars target.

NASA’s Artemis program is part of the agency’s broader approach to moon-to-Mars exploration, which aims to explore more of the moon and prepare for the next giant leap-human exploration of Mars.

NASA SBIR and STTR program executive officer Jenn Gustetic said: “The first stage awards are just the first step to help these small companies bring their technologies and ideas to the market. We know that these companies need not only funding, but also business guidance and industry expertise. To help them develop better products and develop. Our plan is to help each of them achieve commercialization.”The SBIR and STTR programs are part of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Agency and are managed by NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California. It encourages small businesses to develop innovative ideas. To meet the specific R&D needs of the federal government and provide commercialization potential.

Many of the small companies participating in the NASA award program come from an additive manufacturing background and understand the importance of this technology for expanding the space sector. The use of additive manufacturing in space applications is essential to reduce costs and quickly produce highly customizable components, making it ideal for taking over low earth orbit (LEO) and later competitive commercial operations. With the advent of a new era of human space flight, more than 70 space agencies and dozens of emerging companies around the world are preparing for some of the largest and most exciting space missions that will be carried out in the next decade. In addition, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been preparing for this historical moment for a long time, and small businesses have always been part of the agency’s vision for a successful future in space.

China3D printingNet compile article!

(Editor in charge: admin)