Scientific investigations on the latest resupply mission to the International Space Station include advances in metal 3D printing, semiconductor manufacturing, thermal re-entry protection, robotic surgery and cartilage tissue regeneration.These studies aim to improve the sustainability of space missions and have a major impact on technology and healthcare on Earth. On Northrop Grumman's 20th Commercial Resupply Services mission, NASA and international partners will test 3D metal printers, semiconductor manufacturing and thermal protection systems for re-entry into Earth's atmosphere as part of a scientific investigation launched to the International Space Station.
The company's Cygnus cargo spacecraft is scheduled to launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Station in Florida on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in late January.
3D printing in space
A research result of the European Space Agency (ESA), the "Metal 3D Printer" (Metal 3D Printer), tests the additive manufacturing or 3D printing technology of small metal parts in a microgravity environment.
ESA's Rob Postema said: "This investigation gives us a first look at how this type of printer will perform in space. 3D printers can print many shapes, and we plan to print some specimens to firstly understand how printing in space differs from printing on Earth, and secondly to see what types of shapes we can print with this technology. In addition, this activity will help demonstrate how crews can print metal parts safely and efficiently in space."
The findings could improve understanding of the functionality, performance and operation of metal 3D printing in space, as well as the quality, strength and properties of printed parts. Resupply is a challenge for future long-duration manned missions. On future long-duration space flights and on the Moon or Mars, crews could use 3D printing to create equipment maintenance parts, reducing the need to carry spare parts or anticipating every tool or item that might be needed, saving launch time and money.
Advances in metal 3D printing could also benefit potential applications here on Earth, including making engines for the automotive, aerospace and marine industries, and building shelters after natural disasters.
A team led by Airbus Defense and Space SAS carried out the investigation under a contract with ESA.
Semiconductor manufacturing in microgravity environments
The Manufacturing of Semiconductor and Thin Film Integrated Coatings (MSTIC) studies how microgravity affects thin films for a wide range of applications.
Alex Hayes of RedwireSpace, which developed the technology, said: "The potential to produce films with superior surface structures and a wide range of applications from energy harvesting to advanced sensor technology is particularly groundbreaking. This represents a major leap forward in space manufacturing and may herald a new era of technological advancement, with broad implications for both space exploration and terrestrial applications."
This technology could enable autonomous manufacturing to replace many of the machines and processes currently used to make various semiconductors, making it possible to develop more efficient and higher-performing electrical devices.
Fabricating semiconductor devices in microgravity can also improve their quality and reduce the materials, equipment and labor required. On future long-duration missions, this technology could provide the ability to produce components and equipment in space, reducing the need for resupply missions from Earth. The technology could also have applications in devices that harvest energy and provide electricity on Earth.
"While the initial pilot program is to compare films produced on Earth and in space, the ultimate goal is to expand to a variety of production areas in the semiconductor field," Hayes said.
Simulating re-entry
Scientists conducting research on the space station often send their experiments back to Earth for further analysis and research. However, the conditions a spacecraft experiences during re-entry, including extreme heat, can have unexpected effects on the contents of the spacecraft. Thermal protection systems used to protect spacecraft and their contents are based on numerical models that often lack validation in actual flights, which can lead to significant overestimation of the required system size and take up valuable space and mass. The Kentucky Reentry Probe Experiment-2 (KREPE-2), part of an effort to improve thermal protection system technology, uses three capsules equipped with different insulation materials and various sensors to obtain data on actual reentry conditions.
"Building on the success of KREPE-1, we improved the sensors to collect more measurements and improved the communications system to transmit more data," said lead researcher Alexander Martin of the University of Kentucky. "We had the opportunity to test several heat shields provided by NASA that had never been tested before, as well as a heat shield manufactured entirely by the University of Kentucky, which was also a first."
The capsules could also be used for other re-entry experiments, supporting improved heat shielding for applications on Earth, such as protecting people and buildings from wildfires.
telerobotic surgery
The robotic surgery technology demonstration tested the performance of a small robot that can perform surgical procedures remotely from Earth. The researchers plan to compare surgeries in microgravity with those on Earth to assess the effects of microgravity and the time delay between space and the ground.
Shane Farritor, chief technology officer of Virtual Incision Corporation, said the robot uses two "hands" to grab and cut simulated surgical tissue and provide tension to determine the location and method of cutting. "
Longer space missions increase the likelihood that a crew member will require surgical intervention, whether it's a simple suture or an emergency appendectomy. The results of this investigation will help develop robotic systems to perform these surgeries. Additionally, the number of surgeons in rural areas of the United States decreased by nearly one-third from 2001 to 2019. The robot's miniaturization and remote control capabilities may help perform surgeries anywhere and at any time.
NASA has sponsored microrobotics research for 15 years. In 2006, a remotely controlled robot performed underwater on NASA's Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) 9 mission. In 2014, a micro surgical robot performed a simulated surgical mission on a zero-gravity parabolic aircraft.
Growing cartilage tissue in space
The compartment cartilage tissue structure demonstrates two technologies, namely JanusBaseNano-Matrix (JBNm) and JanusBaseNanopiece (JBNp). JBNm is an injectable material that provides a scaffold for cartilage formation in a microgravity environment and can serve as a model for studying cartilage diseases. JBNp offers an RNA-based therapy to prevent and treat diseases that cause cartilage degeneration.
Cartilage has a limited ability to repair itself, and osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability among older patients on Earth. Microgravity triggers cartilage degeneration that is similar to the progression of aging-related osteoarthritis but occurs more quickly, so research in microgravity could lead to the development of effective treatments more quickly. The results of this research could promote cartilage regeneration to treat joint injuries and diseases on Earth and help develop ways to keep cartilage healthy during future missions to the moon and Mars.
Compiled source: ScitechDaily