Development of a Space Manufacturing Facility for In-situ Fabrication of Large Space Structures
- Paper number
IAC-06-D3.2.04
- Author
Mr. Sean Jessen, MDA, Canada
- Coauthor
Dr. Lijue Xue, Canada
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Manufacturing on-orbit provides a wealth of opportunities while at the same time presenting numerous challenges. A successful manufacturing process should make use of vacuum and micro- and/or differential gravity and could potentially allow ‘containerless’ processing of materials. In addition, contaminants that may be introduced to the fabricated materials during the fabrication process can be drastically reduced. Space-based manufacturing can provide 24-hour access to maximum sunlight for power generation. At the same time, space-based manufacturing will eliminate a number of issues such as volume constraints due to limitations imposed by launch vehicle fairings and will enable the components fabricated on-orbit to be far more structurally efficient as they will not have to be designed and built to withstand the severe loads imposed during launch. A common manufacturing hub can be used to fabricate a variety of configurations. The feedstock would be relatively easy to launch. A broad range of materials can be utilized by the various fabrication technologies; including metals, alloys, ceramics, glass and polymers. Most processes can utilize multiple materials and compositions. A space-based manufacturing facility would offer the ability to grow a structure over time as well as maintain and repair it. In addition, NDE capabilities can be built into the system to ensure adequate component integrity is achieved. Issues exist with respect to containment and handling powder feedstock in micro-gravity. The manufacturing system will be required to operate in the extreme environment of space (low-to-zero gravity, vacuum, thermal extremes). Also, significant power/ energy may be required to operate the manufacturing system depending on the scale of the manufacturing process, so the manufacturing system will require significant infrastructure (cooling, power generation, maintenance). The core of the manufacturing system will need to be launched and as such will be subject the constraints that we seek to avoid (vibration loads, mass and volume limitations), but would be able to expand its own capabilities significantly. This paper will outline a proposed space-based manufacturing facility, briefly consider the economic hurdles to such an approach, discuss the current state-of-the-art and outline the next phase of technology development required to make space-based manufacturing a reality.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-D3.2.04.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.