INDUSTRY FOCUS MILITARY, AEROSPACE & DEFENCE
When she embarked on a simulated astronaut mission last December, Sabrina Kerber, space architect and
analog astronaut, EuroMoonMars, was not only responsible for maintaining all the technical equipment but she also took her own research with her – including a collaborative
project with MakerBot to investigate how 3D printing could be used to improve life on a moonbase
T
he EMMIHS-II mission is a collaboration between the European
Space Agency (ESA) funded Euro Moon Mars Initiative (EMM), the International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG) and the International Moon Base Alliance (IMA). It took place at the renowned Hawai'i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) habitat. Isolated for two weeks, our international crew of astronauts lived, worked and researched just like astronauts on the moon – including eating food made from freeze- dried ingredients and leaving the habitat only on approved extravehicular activities (EVA) while wearing spacesuits with integrated life support systems – all while conducting scientific experiments. During my time there, I decided to test
the MakerBot METHOD 3D printer and its reliability on a space mission. Our crew of six tested various operations, ranging from medical procedures to aspects of habitability and astronaut performance. The simulation was set in an isolated, confined and extreme environment to recreate the harsh milieu of an extra- terrestrial destination, such as the moon.
PRINTING REPLACEMENT PARTS The METHOD platform was tested and implemented as a tool for printing any necessary replacement parts or missing appliances, such as drone propeller holders and tweezers. The need for propeller
The EMMIHS-II mission took place at
the renowned Hawai'i Space Exploration
Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) habitat
3D PRINTING IN SPACE
holders for the mission drone was an unexpected problem that was efficiently solved in a few hours thanks to the availability of a 3D printer. Additionally, the extruder camera made it possible for the team to monitor the printer’s progress while working on other projects. On an actual space mission, the success
can stand or fall on the ability to quickly solve problems and adapt to unexpected situations. With the possibility to design and print replacement parts, the dependency on resupply missions would be much improved. Being able to 3D print objects on space missions would also allow us a certain flexibility in our solution-finding processes. Situations and conditions on a space
Additive manufacturing technology has been proven to be an important addition to space missions, including playing a big role in the design of future extra-terrestrial habitats
or analogue mission always vary from what was expected during the planning process. This can have a big impact on envisaged scientific experiments or even make it impossible to conduct them. Having direct access to a 3D printer would allow the crew to redesign and manufacture tools adapted to the new situation with relatively little effort. The second part of the experiment was
spent on trying to improve the human factors – the interaction of humans with systems, equipment and facilities – inside the habitat. As an example, the livability inside an extra-terrestrial habitat can be greatly enhanced with the possibility to manufacture objects and items adapted to personal habitability needs. It could allow the crew to personalise their workspace and sleeping quarters and make visual changes in the interior design during long-term missions, helping to boost morale and even prevent psychological burnout. Furthermore, astronauts can only
bring very few personal items on a mission, in order to limit the payload.
36 SEPTEMBER 2020 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Having METHOD in the simulation allowed the team to print items that they would not have been allowed to bring on the actual mission and introduced new variety to the leisure time activities inside the habitat, as games or similar items could be manufactured on demand. Each of us also printed a personal object
for recreational or decorative purposes. Creating a sense of home and comfort inside space habitats is an important goal in space architectural designs – and being able to recreate traditions from Earth, like Christmas or other seasonal holidays, helps stay connected with home.
ADAPTING TO THE ALTITUDE The HI-SEAS habitat lies at a high altitude of 2,500m. Printing at such high altitudes required slight changes to the printer settings to ensure that the objects would come out just as well as they would in a standard environment. When I initially started printing with PLA, the prints came out warped or failed altogether. However, realising this was due to the altitude, I adjusted the settings and the quality of the prints and the reliability of the printer improved significantly. Additive manufacturing technology has
been proven to be an important addition to space missions, including playing a big role in the design of future extra- terrestrial habitats. The benefits of 3D printing have been successfully tested on the International Space Station (ISS). The ability to manufacture part of the
interior fittings on site, for example, will greatly minimise the payloads, and thus the costs and environmental impacts of space missions. In future scenarios, on- site manufacturing could potentially be an integral part of the habitat design itself.
Makerbot
www.makerbot.com / DESIGNSOLUTIONS
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