Fabrication Infrastructure to Enable Efficient Exploration and Utilization of Space
- Paper number
IAC-07-D3.3.02
- Author
Mr. Joe T. Howell, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States
- Coauthor
Jim Good, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. John Fikes, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Marshall Space Flight Center, United States
- Coauthor
Ms. Carole McLemore, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Marshall Space Flight Center, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Curtis Manning, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Marshall Space Flight Center, United States
- Year
2007
- Abstract
Unlike past one-at-a-time mission approaches, system-of-systems infrastructures will be needed to enable ambitious scenarios for sustainable future space exploration and utilization. Fabrication infrastructure will be needed to support habitat structure development, tools and mechanical part fabrication, as well as repair and replacement of ground support and space mission hardware such as life support items, vehicle components and crew systems. The fabrication infrastructure will need the In Situ Fabrication and Repair (ISFR) element, which is working in conjunction with the In Situ Resources Utilization (ISRU) element, to live off the land. The ISFR Element supports the entire life cycle of Exploration by: reducing downtime due to failed components; decreasing risk to crew by recovering quickly from degraded operation of equipment; improving system functionality with advanced geometry capabilities; and enhancing mission safety by reducing assembly part counts of original designs where possible. This paper addresses the fabrication infrastructures that supports efficient, affordable, reliable infrastructures for both space exploration systems and logistics; infrastructures that allow sustained, affordable and highly effective operations on the Moon, Mars and beyond.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-D3.3.02.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.