Viability of in-situ Lunar Manufacturing of Life Support Systems using a Direct Writing Technique
PI: Gregory Whiting, University of Colorado - Boulder, Robert Street (Co-I), Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
PI: Gregory Whiting, University of Colorado - Boulder, Robert Street (Co-I), Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated

- TA06 Human Health, Life Support and Habitation Systems
- TA07 Human Exploration Destination Systems
- TA12 Materials, Structures, Mechanical Systems and Manufacturing
Additive manufacture of functional tools and devices such as life support systems from in-situ resources will be an essential component of reducing the cost of lunar colonization and thus commercialization of both the lunar surface as well as cislunar space. Although the printing of thermoplastics and the basic syringe-based extrusion of single function inks have been demonstrated in microgravity environments, they are incompatible in most lunar in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) applications. In addition, neither technique can offer a wide library of printable functions.
This experiment will assess effects of lunar gravity and microgravity on the direct-ink writing process using well-understood room-temperature inks. In a lunar gravity environment, it will explore the design rules for direct-ink writing and seek to demonstrate the ability to print simple components. A successful demonstration will reveal printable geometries only achievable in both lunar and cislunar gravity. It will also establish a model to constrain objective-driven device designs.
NASA lunar missions, including colonization
Commercial and academic use of lunar and cislunar environments
Lunar ISRU
Technology Details
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Selection DateTechFlights19 (Oct 2019)
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Program StatusActive
- 0 Parabolic
Development Team
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PIGregory Whiting
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PI Organization
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Co-IRobert Street
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Co-I Organization
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SponsorNASA