Autonomous In-Space Manufacturing Moves Closer to Reality

Based in Massachusetts, COSM Advanced Manufacturing Systems announced that it will begin working on the final development of electron beam metal 3D printing systems for a variety of future in-space, lunar and Martian applications. The work is funded by a SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) contract from NASA to support the Artemis program’s return to the Moon. In fact, last September NASA selected three more small U.S. businesses to mature a range of technologies for sustainable exploration of the Moon under the Artemis program. Therefore, COSM was contacted to support its needs for in-space manufacturing, assembly, modification, and repair of components.

The technology advanced by COSM is based on Directed Energy Deposition (DED) technology. It uses an electron beam to deposit metal from a spool of wire into a large complex part. The company explains that it has capitalized on decades of experience using charged particle beams systems for imaging and metrology in the semiconductor industry. Their new system will automatically monitor and adjust the 3D printing process as it occurs. “Producing large metal parts autonomously to verifiable specifications and quality in-space will be an enabling part of man’s permanent presence on the Moon and further missions to Mars,” explains Richard Comunale, Founder and CEO.

Illustration | Credits: NASA

With the Artemis program, NASA will land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than before. Indeed, NASA aims to build sustainable elements on and around the Moon that will allow its robots and astronauts to explore and conduct more scientific experiments. Additive manufacturing is a key technology in space exploration and expansion, offering greater levels of flexibility such as in-situ production of parts. COSM Advanced Manufacturing was selected in September 2020, after NASA acquired more funds ($11.9 million) to mature lunar capabilities for Artemis. Its technology was selected because of its high-degree of active process control, real-time inspection and flaw detection.