Submission Statement

A recent research paper suggests that large-scale in-orbit robotic construction is going to need cooperative swarm robots and that this technology does not exist yet. What Redwire Space is doing looks like a step in the right direction.

This reminds me of another currently NASA-supported effort, SpinLaunch, and their kinetic launcher. One of its challenges is the massive G forces at launch and the damage it might do to electronics. That wouldn't be a problem if it was launching the base material 3D printers extrude for construction. SpinLaunch & Redwire Space might be perfect partners for each other.

The following submission statement was provided by /u/lughnasadh:

Submission Statement

A recent research paper suggests that large-scale in-orbit robotic construction is going to need cooperative swarm robots and that this technology does not exist yet. What Redwire Space is doing looks like a step in the right direction.

This reminds me of another currently NASA-supported effort, SpinLaunch, and their kinetic launcher. One of its challenges is the massive G forces at launch and the damage it might do to electronics. That wouldn't be a problem if it was launching the base material 3D printers extrude for construction. SpinLaunch & Redwire Space might be perfect partners for each other.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/yka5rx/nasafunded_redwire_space_wants_to_use_3d_printing/ius2nbv/

NASA should talk to Relativity Space. They’ve been 3D printing massive, space-bound structures for years.

Not the same thing, though I love what Relativity is doing. Their stargate technology has yet to even be tested in microgravity.

It's much closer to Tethers Unlimited's Spiderfab.

>> They’ve been 3D printing massive, space-bound structures for years.

Relativity Space, like several others, has used 3D printing to build parts for rockets on Earth.

3D printing has been tested onboard the ISS, but as far as I know no one has tested a 3D printer in orbit outside the ISS, as Redwire plans to do.

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Yep this is the closest other project. Though I would be remiss to not mention that Tethers is much farther behind compared to Redwire.

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You're correct, Redwire was also the first company to do printing in Microgravity and the ISS so this is the logical next step for them

That is a very interesting combination.

We need to consider using this to replace the useless supply chain/current logistics on earth before doing this in space

I can't tell. I was looking up Redwire's projects after seeing this post, and I can't find any kind of real information that compares to the Trusselator tests that TU was doing.

I can direct you to some great information if you want. They have already done extensive testing at various different NASA testing centers as well as simulated micro gravity setting testing.

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https://youtu.be/7Nm5phrTplM

Exactly what I was thinking . 3d printing is the future of space construction, but you still have to get all that mass into space

They will just feed up the line of PLA to the printer like a space elevator.

Interesting idea. I wonder how they're going to deal with outgassing from the extrusion process.

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I mean, that's a rendering of how they'll print a structure.

Here's TU actually demonstrating it.

That really doesn't support the claim that they're much farther ahead. TU did physical demonstrations of how they'll print structures using their Trusselator about 8 years ago, and have had their printing/recycling prototypes on the ISS for 4 years (launched on the S.S. John Young Cygnus flight). Actual microgravity testing, not just simulated.

https://redwirespace.com/newsroom/made-in-space-and-braskem-to-launch-first-commercial-recycling-facility-to-the-space-station/?rdws=nnn.xffxcv.tfd&rdwj=2066.

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/tdm/osam-2.html.

"Commercially-developed" being the key words. As I pointed out, TU's recycler has been up there for years, but it was developed as part of a NASA project.

Redwire had the first 3d printer on iss 2014, they are on 3rd gen. The recycler TU was first, but taken over by a better redwire recycler. The YU recycler is being retired, see https://youtu.be/UFoAoQAO_aE. Side note osam2 is first 2024. osam1 is no earlier than 2025.