Made In Space successfully demonstrates Archinaut additive manufacturing and assembly capabilities

Made In Space (MIS) has successfully demonstrated Archinaut’s additive manufacturing and robotic assembly capabilities in a simulated space environment. Through a NASA Tipping Point contract, thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing was carried out on the Archinaut system, fabricating the thermal and pressure environment satellites experience during Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
During the TVAC testing, autonomous reversible connection and joining techniques of 3D printed parts were demonstrated by MIS, as were pre-fabricated components like nodes and trusses via a robotic arm system and an end effector. The robotics system can also address repairs and can be integrated into small sats for payload retrievals and installations. Printing and assembly operations were monitored and inspected by an internally developed camera system.