Introduction
The problem examined in this research is the impact that In Space Manufacturing has on the costs of production and the time consumed in the production process. Shipping spare parts, tools, hardware, and equipment has become a costly and time-consuming practice for spacecraft companies. NASA and Space X, for example, deploy about 7,000 pounds of replacement components and gear to the International Space Station (ISS) (Cooke, 2020). Furthermore, around 29,000 pounds of gold equipment are already on board the ISS, with an additional 39,000 pounds kept terrestrially across the world awaiting transfer. Resupply missions make logistics of transferring components, hardware, and equipment to low Earth orbit (LEO) more accessible than ever before due to the regular scheduling of flights to and from the ISS (Smith et al., 2022). Future replenishment missions (Jones, 2018). It is conceivable to decrease the requirement for logistics while increasing crew safety if materials and parts may be manufactured in orbit rather than launched from the ground.
Intent
The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of ISM on the cost and time involved in the production of specific items. It widens the understanding of in-space manufacturing and provides ideas on which companies apply may reduce the costs and time consumed in the production process. The method presented in this study to control production costs is 3D printing technology (Candi & Beltagui, 2019). A manufacturing process known as additive manufacturing (AM) or three-dimensional printing involves adding layers of material one at a time (Chueh et al., 2020). Design freedom offered by AM is helpful in the space industry, where parts are manufactured in tiny numbers and with multiple customizations. This article splits AMFS analysis into two categories: space-based and ground-based, and it discusses the future of in-space AM, a topic that is closely related to AM, as well as the use of polymers in space-based AMFS on the Intern.
Research Question
What is In-Space Manufacturing, and what strategies can companies use to downgrade the costs associable and save time in the production process by enhancing efficiency?
Hypothesis
In-Space Manufacturing directly impacts production costs and consumers extra time than expected.
Literature Themes
Despite other researchers evaluating similar topics in the past, the research materials are not easily accessible for people wanting to understand the subject in depth. Difficulty accessing the research material hinders the expansion of new ideas from the producers. A design database with approved components and systems manufacturing products describes the products to be manufactured. In contrast, printing technologies concentrate on ways to create them (Snyder et al., 2019). The design blueprint for the component to be manufactured will be included in this database, together with any pertinent information such as verification standards that would eventually lead to a catalog of certified components for production and usage while in orbit (Mckinley, 2021). This activity includes creating multi-material pieces made of polymers, composites, metals, and electronics.
The literature on space debris was compiled from books, journal articles, conference papers, official websites, and websites run by space agencies. In addition to journal websites, the first search for peer-reviewed literature also looked in the EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest databases. However, corporate databases made it challenging to locate peer-reviewed literature pertinent to the original study issue.
Data Collection and Analysis Plan
Data collection strategies determine the accuracy of a report and provide reliable information. Therefore, it was a crucial consideration in collecting the information portrayed in this research. Secondary data, which gives information on the research issue and is accessible from peer-reviewed journals and articles from credible sources in the space realm and report such as NASA, was employed in this study (Tzoilas et al., 2021). The peer-reviewed journals are accessible through online platforms; hence, online research is a critical strategy for obtaining this information. Data collection strategies are essential since they exhaust the research’s crucial aspects.
Data analysis helps determine the accuracy of the information obtained and depicts the extent to which the hypothesis is correct. Data analysis is categorized into two while conducting this research, descriptive and inferential. Descriptive data provides an array of ideas within the study by expressing words and images (Chen et al., 2020). The null hypothesis is rejected if there is less than a 5% likelihood that a result as dramatic as the sample result would occur if the null hypothesis were true (Prater et al., 2018). Qualitative data in the research elaborates the findings using words and diagrams, whereas quantity; operational data provides a mathematical interpretation of the data obtained. Data collection and analysis are vital for the research and create reliability in the research findings.
Results
In-space manufacturing is a process by which companies produce goods beyond the world. It ensures sustainable and flexible means to produce otherwise unproductive commodities. The process promotes space exploration as the researchers seek more effective resources for the production process. The manufacturing of these goods outside of the globe assures the preservation of the environment, hence encouraging environmental preservation (Olah et al., 2020). ISM technology is vital in the development of future companies since they explore space and find alternative means for obtaining goods that are inaccessible from the earth.
The following table A indicates the different costs applicable to the installment of robust human knowledge through new scientific discoveries by NASA for the years 2091 and 2020. The cost of exploration on other planets expanded in 2020 due to the advancement in human knowledge. According to NASA, the cost rose from $7,849 million in 2019 to $8,216 in 2020 (NASA, 2020). The Earth Systematic missions declined from $804 to $756 million. This is based on the NASA financial statements for the year 2020 (NASA, 2020). However, the production cost for commodities that are easy to sustain in outer space than on earth reduced in subsequent years due to adaptation.
Table A: A diagrammatic presentation of the costs that NASA incurred in exploration in 2020 and 2019
Additive manufacturing (AM) is required when considering upcoming missions to the Moon or Mars. Resupply missions are not an option, for instance, if a quick and adaptable response to an event involving the loss or destruction of parts is needed. Similarly, this will be the case if there is a requirement for unique parts that are not presently in stock (Ngo et al., 201). The capability to directly produce anything of any kind in space or in-space manufacturing becomes essential in these circumstances. ISM also does not require parts and components to endure the severe cases of an Earth-based rocket launch (Synder et al., 2019). The ability to produce “ready to use” parts is a benefit of AM in this situation.
Due to the ability to create ready-to-use components right away from a feedstock material, such as a filament or powder, and the fact that just the necessary quantity of material is utilized to create the part, additive manufacturing (AM) is helpful in this circumstance. As a result, it makes sense to develop AM technologies that can function in situations with reduced gravity or microgravity (g) on the Moon and Mars (Sacco & Moon, 2019). Once the required technological advancements are made, the parts may be 3D printed in orbit. Depending on the circumstances of the trip, the resources may be transported from Earth or discovered in space, such as on the Moon and Mars (Heldmann et al., 2021). For the extension of crewed missions to the Moon and Mars, using in-situ resources must be a key priority because of the capabilities for carrying equipment and supplies.
The Moon and Mars have unfriendly surfaces because of radiation, low air pressure, almost no atmosphere, extreme temperatures, and temperature swings. Human existence and safe travel away from and to earth require manufactured homes. These would then need to be built utilizing available materials, equipped with advanced life support systems, and the bare minimum of infrastructure. This strategy is known as in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). ISRU aims to produce complex objects from abundant resources like the moon or Mars regolith. Whether a drug or other item is a resource depends on whether the necessary technology is available (Efstathiadis et al., 2018). However, there are specific reasons why using plastics in space might be difficult. Polymers deteriorate due to space-specific phenomena, including atomic oxygen and ultraviolet light.
Conclusions (Final Report Only)
There are now two Phase II-Extended SBIRs in progress, and each company has included the other as a partner on the relevant contracts. As a consequence, NASA derives increased value and efficiency. TUI utilizes thermoplastics to create Customizable Recyclable ISS Packaging (CRISSP) (Prater, 2019). Custom profiles for the items provide specific vibration characteristics or mechanical qualities in the packaging. Reversible thermoset (RVT) copolymer materials are the primary focus of Cornerstone Research Group (CRG) (Nyman et al., 2021). The RVT is a thermally activated viscosity modifier influencing the material’s melting patterns. The designs maintain a low viscosity that makes them suitable for FDM while having the strength and modulus values equivalent to or higher than those of basic thermoplastic materials.
According to logistical calculations, a recycling capability would significantly reduce the initial launch mass needed for long-duration missions. Many polymers are presently employed in ISS packaging materials, including LDPE, HDPE, PET, Nylon, and PVC (Siracusa & Blanco, 2020). ISM collaborates with ISS packaging to access materials and production skills, fastening the process, to supply common materials that may be utilized for packaging initially and subsequently recycled into usable feedstock for component fabrication throughout the mission.
Conducting the research experienced some challenges that inhibited the amount of information accessed. The researcher experienced difficulties collecting data due to limited sources in the online media. Insufficient information restricts the data used to conduct the research; hence may be shallow and fail to address critical aspects that require attention. Some notification affecting stakeholders in in-space manufacturing enterprises is restricted to authorized people, making it difficult for researchers to get data from locations such as NASA (Lykou et al., 2020). The research topic is significantly technical and requires professional skills to analyze and draw conclusions on the issues of concern.
However, despite the challenges experienced in the collection and analysis of data, the research addresses the problem identified in the problem statement and answers the question behind its composure. Space manufacturing is the process by which companies associated with space research and interceptions create items challenging to develop in the environment around the earth in outer space hence overcoming the challenges arising due to gravity and other non-supportive factors (Cooke, 2020). The culmination of ISM’s integrated task portfolio is the creation of recycling and manufacturing ideas and procedures that allow various parts and components to be produced on demand.
Recommendations (Final Report Only)
Deploying satellites, starships, and houses into space is a cheaper alternative. Making extra components can also considerably reduce the risk connected with human space flight. This article examines the technical development path toward in-space manufacturing, and the patterns discovered serve to support ideas for the next steps. Prior attempts include breakthroughs in in-space service since many of the same technology and processes are utilized in in-space manufacturing (Brock et al., 2021). The study team produced a stream of pure ions from hydrothermally generated zinc oxide nanowires (ZnONWs) and metal and resin 3D printing techniques.
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