Problem Background
The problem to be resolved through this research is that shipping spare parts, hardware, tools, and equipment to space has been an expensive and time-consuming venture. For instance, annually, over 7000 pounds of hardware and spare parts are sent to the International Space Station (ISS). However, the latter fails to factor in the 29,000 pounds of spaceflight hardware stored aboard the ISS and another 39,000 pounds stored terrestrially on Earth (Ngo et al., 2018). Currently, with flights to and from the ISS scheduled often, resupply missions create the logistics of transporting hardware, tools, and parts more accessible than ever to low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The current literature does not sufficiently resolve the resupply missions in the space industry from the perspective of the follower. Nonetheless, when considering the enormous distances between celestial bodies like the earth, Mars, and Moon, resupply missions to future Martian and Lunar outposts are expected to be time consuming and logistical issue. In order to address the problem of shipping these products, additive manufacturing using 3D printing technology known as in-space manufacturing (ISM) has been recommended as a solution to the problem (Ngo et al., 2018). There are many international and national space organizations, private sector firms, and universities actively researching the possibility of utilizing ISM for the production of tools, parts, and human organs for utilization during long-time spaceflight, particularly to Mars, Moon, and beyond.
Intent /Objective of this Study
The long-term aim of this research is to establish a formalized ISM or additive manufacturing using 3D-Technology. The ISM offers a solution for flexible and sustainable missions both in transit and on the surface via on-demand repair, fabrication, and recycling abilities for habitats, critical systems, and mission logistics and maintenance. The objective of the current research is to offer a detailed review of industry practices and literature in correlation with resupply missions for spaceflight to Mars, the Moon, and beyond. Specifically, the research provides a comprehensive review of sources and features of resupply missions commonly found in spaceflight projects. Further, the study will develop an ISM system for easier resupplying missions and frameworks.
Research Question
Are maximum resupply missions for spaceflight achieved after developing the ISM?
Research Hypothesis
Maximum resupply missions for spaceflight are achieved after developing the ISM.
Problem Prevalence
The problem is moderately prevalent in the existing current research since it is of prime interest for the field, but only in a narrowly focused set of specializations. A study suggests that spacecraft power systems experience the problem of degradation over time, decreasing the amount of power accessible for use as the mission progresses (Trujillo et al., 2017). In other words, efficient and effective utilization of space-based resources is essential for future missions of NASA science and exploration. In addition, the literature points towards a possibility of interference with an array of international and national operating assets and a serious threat to in-space staff (Antonsen et al., 2022). Such issues are due to the ever-increasing prevalence of Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) (Antonsen et al., 2022). Existing capacities are inadequate for extraction, forming stocks, refining, transporting in-situ materials for ISM, fuelling, servicing, and repair (Dervay et al., 2021). Therefore, it is evident that the current research addresses the problem extensively but within a limited set of interests, such as operations, risk management, and energy security.
Current Efforts
When it comes to the researchers’ efforts at the moment, the key focus is put on expanding design limitations and improving accessibilities. In the case of the latter, it will allow the professionals to have improved access to and exploration of space (Trujillo et al., 2017). For example, a study to examine the commercial feasibility of many potential applications of ISM via a sequence of case studies revealed that ISM has the potential to be a paradigm-shifting in technology (Trujillo et al., 2017). In addition, the design limitations are important to consider as well since the ISM is able to change the paradigm of space system design (Moraguez & De Weck, 2020). Researchers are trying to achieve it by supporting the fabrication and repair of components that are unencumbered by launch-associated design limitations (Moraguez & De Weck, 2020). This is especially true due to the fact that there are nowhere the signs of an exponential increase of debris pieces discovered at present (Pardini & Anselmo, 2021). Thus, the current efforts are specifically focused on addressing accessibilities and design limitations.
Leading Recommendations
The leading recommendations in the field include 3D printing and astrometry, which are essentially extensions of in-space manufacturing. A study found that ground-based optical BepiColombo astrometry is an example of how the framework can be implemented in practice, which forms the basis of the recommendation (Micheli et al., 2021). The answer lies in the communication process between the send and receiver, which allows for more efficient in-space manufacturing effort coordination. 3D printing in virtual reality is another mode of the ISM, where the mapping techniques can be used to optimize both the printing process as well as the recovery (Somavarapu & Guzzetti, 2021). A less prospective recommendation is electrodynamic tethering, which wants to use propellant-less Jovian spacecraft captures (Casanova-Álvarez et al., 2021). Thus, both 3D printing and astrometry show promise in advancing the ISM, but technological challenges still persist.
Similarities in the Research Approach
A preliminary literature review reveals that past studies are similar to the research being undertaken by the team because it focuses on ways of addressing spaceflight resupply missions’ problems. In terms of modeling and resolving the problems, different methods have been recommended; for example, network-based optimization; and visualization techniques and databases are applied to visualize and communicate the problems (Ngo et al., 2018). However, what is missing from past research is a detailed and structured method for implementing and managing the problems and benefits of ISM in space projects.
Data Collection and Analysis Plan
The data used to evaluate the problem will be based on ISM development and its benefits in relation to LEO. The data collection for this research will come from scholarly, peer-reviewed articles, websites of government-financed space organizations like the European Space Agency and NASA, and books. In addition, websites from reputable firms in the space sector like SpaceX, Boeing, and Blue Origin (Ngo et al., 2018). In addition, data will be collected sparingly from articles from sources like Spaceflightnow, Space.com, and Space Daily.
Further, there are many scholarly articles, books, and reputable data from the space industry at disposal, but the in-space manufacturing site of NASA is a useful source. The data collected can then be analyzed using content analysis, in which a researcher identifies the frequency with which the concept or words in the articles or books are shared (Sekaran & Bougie, 2019). Research has to group large amounts of text into codes and summarize them into categories and tabulate the data to attain the frequency of some variables or concepts.
References
Antonsen, E. L., Myers, J. G., Boley, L., Arellano, J., Kerstman, E., Kadwa, B., Buckland, D. M., & Van Baalen, M. (2022). Estimating medical risk in human spaceflight. npj Microgravity, 8(1). Web.
Casanova-Álvarez, M., Navarro-Medina, F., & Tommasini, D. (2021). Conceptual design of Electrodynamic multi tether system for self-propelled Jovian capture. Acta Astronautica, 184, 299-307. Web.
Dervay, J. P., Brandt, K. E., & Sanders, R. (2021). Spaceflight medical operations. Human Spaceflight Operations: Lessons Learned from 60 Years in Space, 3(4), 457-492. Web.
Micheli, M., Koschny, D., Conversi, L., Budnik, F., Gray, B., Santana-Ros, T., Reszelewski, R., Żołnowski, M., Gȩdek, M., Gendre, B., Coward, D., Molotov, I. E., Rumyantsev, V., Liakos, A., & Schmalz, S. (2021). Optical observations of the BepiColombo spacecraft as a proxy for a potential threatening asteroid. Acta Astronautica, 184, 251-258. Web.
Moraguez, M., & De Weck, O. (2020). Benefits of in-space manufacturing technology development for human Spaceflight. 2020 IEEE Aerospace Conference. (6th ed., pp. 235-267). Facet. Web.
Ngo, T., Kashani, A., Imbalzano, G., Nguyen, K., & Hui, D. (2018). Additive manufacturing 3Dprinting): A review of materials, methods, applications and challenges. Composites Part B: Engineering, 143, 172-196. Web.
Pardini, C., & Anselmo, L. (2021). Evaluating the impact of space activities in low earth orbit. Acta Astronautica, 184(3), 11-22. Web.
Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2019). Research methods for business: A skill building approach (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Somavarapu, D. H., & Guzzetti, D. (2021). Toward immersive spacecraft trajectory design: Mapping user drawings to natural periodic orbits. Acta Astronautica, 184, 208-221. Web.
Trujillo, A. E., Moraguez, M. T., Owens, A., Wald, S. I., & De Weck, O. (2017). Feasibility analysis of commercial in-space manufacturing applications. AIAA SPACE and Astronautics Forum and Exposition. Web.