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This is how NASA will manufacture aircraft parts in space



This is how NASA will manufacture aircraft parts in space
nasa, space

This is how NASA will manufacture aircraft parts in space


NASA has a plan to manufacture aircraft components in space, as well as to assemble them.

NASA’s hiring of Maxar Technologies makes one thing clear. The idea of ​​the space agency is fabricate in space and assemble components. In fact, the alliance has clearly stated its motivation: to develop a robotic system to create spacecraft parts in low Earth orbit.

The company Maxar Technologies is specialized in production in this type of extreme conditions. NASA’s objective will be to manufacture parts such as the propulsion of a ship or assemble the components of a communications antenna. work that will be made more than 1,000 kilometers above the earth’s surface.

These tasks will be done in the Restore L ship , from NASA. This is a mission aimed at extending the useful life cycle of satellites. It will be in this area that manufacturing will begin in space, with the help of robots. In 2023 the Space Infrastructure Dexterous Robot will be launched. It is a robotic arm almost five meters long, which can assemble the parts of an antenna.

The mission to upgrade the satellites, rather than scrap them, makes further sense. It’s also about prevent an increase in space debris which already floods Earth’s orbit at different heights.

Manufacturing in space, a task for private companies

The production of aerospace components in space is a task for private companies. Without their collaboration, NASA could not cover all the fields. And this is not a priority for the space agency. But yes it is a factor that can lower costs and therefore offer clear benefits.

In a sense, the entry of private companies into the space race is aimed at reducing costs. Space exploration is very expensive. But if the R&D is divided and then shared by commercializing it, quests are more affordable.

The push from private companies is matched only by the pressing needs of NASA. So the space agency reserved for them a preponderant role. The private sector will even be able to create its own space stations and put them into orbit.

Images: NASA