Structural testing
AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM // DECEMBER 2019 49
avoids the inherent risk of spacewalks by performing
some tasks currently completed by astronauts.
The European Space Agency (ESA) also considers iSM
a potential “strong enabler” for a wide range of space
activities, such as long-term exploration missions,
enhancement of telecommunication, Earth observation
and navigation satellite capabilities.
In recent years, the ESA has made studies on the
subject of in-situ manufacturing and construction using
local resources, to support sustainable exploration.
Dr Advenit Makaya, advanced manufacturing engineer
at the ESA says, “The ESA’s Clean Space initiative has
recently launched studies in orbital Manufacturing
Assembly and Recycling, looking at the system-level
implications of such capability on the design of satellites.”
In November the ‘recycler’ was launched on board a
Antares rocket heading for the International Space
Station. The device, developed by Made In Space, turns
plastic waste and 3D printed objects into feedstock that
serves as the raw material for the
company’s Additive Manufacturing
Facility on the space station.
ON AND OFF-GROUND TESTING
Within the Archinaut program, its
various systems have undergone extensive
testing in a thermal vacuum chamber
that simulates the harsh operational
environment of space. Rush says, “We
successfully demonstrated Archinaut’s
additive manufacturing and robotically
assembly capabilities within a thermal
vacuum chamber in 2018. We have also
validated the manufacturing technologies
on the ISS.”
Made In Space’s ESAMM was tested in
a vacuum chamber in the Engineering
Evaluation Laboratory at NASA’s Ames
Research Center in Moffett Field,
California. Large beam segments were 3D
printed and all the components subjected
to pressures and temperatures equivalent
to deep space. Additional tests will take
place to ready Archinaut One for its flight
demonstration. Testing in space is the
next step to validate the technologies for
future mission use.
Aerospace firm Tethers Unlimited
uses float tables, platforms that float
using air jets above flat granite tables, to
test robotics and other elements in 2D
simulated zero-g. The company’s
engineers also use vacuum chambers to
test the impacts of operation in vacuum.
Dr Robert Hoyt, Tethers Unlimited’s
co-founder says, “Prior to launch we run
hardware through exhaustive
3
/AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM