A CubeSat-based On-Orbit Additive Manufacturing Experiment in LEO
- Paper ID
92809
- author
- company
Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST); Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
- country
India
- year
2025
- abstract
The microgravity environment of outer space is an exciting avenue for manufacturing \& production activities. With increased talk of asteroid mining and human-inhabited extraterrestrial bases, developing the requisite technological know-how and acquiring the capability to undertake in-space manufacturing (ISM) is desirable for both government and private entities. In this context, on-orbit manufacturing, a subset of ISM, has received attention in recent years. However, there exists a palpable absence of privately defined, designed, and accomplished missions of such nature. To further promote the involvement of non-governmental parties in advancing space exploration, CubeSats have emerged as a cost-effective solution for carrying out space-based science experiments. The number of CubeSat missions undertaken by academic institutions and research groups is on the rise. With a small form factor and low operating costs, CubeSats are ideal for technology demonstration \& verification before large-scale deployment through traditional satellites and other expensive means. \vspace{0.20cm} To explore on-orbit manufacturing in detail, this project was conceived to design a CubeSat testbed for demonstrating additive manufacturing in low-Earth orbit (LEO) as part of a collaboration between students from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay). The proposal is to produce a 2 cm \( \times \) 2 cm \( \times \) 2 cm solid cube from an onboard 3D printing mechanism with a suitable polymer-based feed identified through simulation studies evaluating curing time and related parameters. A comprehensive testing mechanism is employed, involving a combination of compressive testing and a suitably devised non-destructive evaluation scheme. The choice of the orbit (LEO) is justified by the faster revisit times of the satellite over a terrestrial station for a continuous downlink of satellite \& printer parameters. The orbital elements are defined based on the power requirements of the printing process satisfied through solar panels. The essence of this endeavour lies in studying the effect of microgravity on processes such as layering \& bonding, and the physical characteristics \& quality of the product. \vspace{0.20cm} This study attempts to establish a foundational framework for future research on on-orbit manufacturing and the use of CubeSats for conducting advanced experiments in the domain of microgravity sciences and beyond.