Archinaut: Facilitating Large-Scale Manufacturing In Space
Archinaut is a two-year project funded by NASA, launched in 2016 and operated by Made In Space, Oceaneering Space Systems and Northrop Grumman. The project was designed to facilitate large-scale structure manufacturing in space by developing the necessary technology for additive manufacturing.
The largest structure previously made by man in space took more than a decade to construct and cost billions of dollars. Archinaut enables a whole new generation of off-world, large-scale manufacturing that reduces the limitations imposed by timescales and cost.
The Benefits for Mankind of Space-Based Technology
Archinaut Applications
There are many Archinaut applications that will be beneficial to current and future space-based manufacturing. Archinaut enables the construction of large-scale telescopes in space, communications antennae, and other complex structures, both remotely and off-world.
Smaller satellites are now able to deploy reflectors and power systems of a large surface area previously only capable using larger satellites. The spacecraft volume limits that rockets impose will be virtually eliminated, while astronauts will be better able to avoid the risks inherent in space-walking by automating many of the tasks previously performed by astronauts.
The technologies from Archinaut unlock the ability to manufacture, construct and assemble structures in orbit on a scale never before possible. These could include large space stations, communications tools on the kilometre scale, and large imaging arrays. More information about the history of space stations to date can be viewed in the embedded PDF.
How Archinaut Works
Now that the two-year Archinaut project is a reality, the way it works is relatively straight forward. The raw materials for the item to be manufactured are launched into orbit, with designs uploaded to Archinaut. The technology is then used to manufacture the component parts and assemble the structure, with all of this activity taking place in space. Made In Space specializes in seeking out unique ways to leverage the properties of the environment in space to develop new and better solutions to many of the challenges currently facing the industrial, commercial, defence and research fields.
Future products that could be manufactured in space
Archinaut Results
The Archinaut manufacturing and assembly machine is essentially a giant 3D printer in space. It is attached to the International Space Station, installed on a pod and capable of in-orbit operations. A robotic arm is attached to the 3D printer to facilitate the fabrication, assembly and repair of machinery and structures.
Antennae reflectors were the first items to be manufactured by Archinaut, used for communication satellites. There are potential plans to add three more robotic arms to the structure, which will then enable Archinaut to grab satellites once they have been decommissioned. The component parts of these satellites can then be recycled for other uses.
A NASA contract has been awarded to Made In Space in 2019, due to be carried out in 2022, in which Archinaut will be used to manufacture and assemble the Archinaut One flight demo mission. This will consist of two solar arrays being constructed and placed on an ESPA satellite. An explanation of ESPA can be found in the short video attachment.
Future NASA missions have the possibility of being revolutionised by the capabilities demonstrated by the Archinaut platform.
More about the Author: Dylan Taylor, CEO of Voyager Space Holdings, space investor and former global President of Colliers and Board Trustee of the $100B Jackson Funds was the first private citizen to manufacture an item in space. The item was subsequently donated to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.
