The International Space Station’s U.S. National Laboratory has announced that registration is open for the upcoming “Additive Manufacturing in Space” workshop.
Hosted by the managers of the ISS National Lab, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the workshop will discuss how developments in 3D printing are creating new opportunities both on Earth and in space. The workshop will also seek to identify the current challenges and solutions for industrial-scale additive innovation within a persistent microgravity environment.
Throughout the event, attendees will be treated to presentations from a range of industry experts including 3D Printing Industry’s Editor-in-chief Michael Petch, before the discussion is opened up to the wider audience within smaller groups.
What will the workshop include?
Scheduled to take place on July 28th, 2020, the online-only half-day event will be live from 12.30-16.30 Eastern Time (US). The workshop is set to feature briefings and breakout sessions led by experts from within 3D printing, the US government, and academia, as well as NASA subject matter experts. Participants will then engage in knowledge sharing exercises, with the goal of identifying the most promising additive manufacturing pathways for using microgravity to advance the R&D of in-space production.
Throughout the workshop, attendees will get the opportunity to break away and discuss a range of industry-relevant subjects in more technical detail. Broadly, the following questions are set to be discussed during the event:
- Microgravity-Specific Materials and Processes: What types of current or new additive manufacturing materials and space-based studies can advance both space and ground-based additive manufacturing? How can the microgravity environment be harnessed to achieve new materials, microstructures, and material properties?
- In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU): What are the key challenges and solutions for applying additive manufacturing to ISRU in space and in remote Earth environments?
- In-Space Production: How can the scaling-up of current additive manufacturing activities onboard the ISS be achieved, and what are the current limitations and gaps in understanding?
- The fundamental question of how microgravity or the extreme space environment can intrinsically and uniquely enhance additive manufacturing will also be discussed in all breakout sessions.
What is the schedule of the event?
The workshop is scheduled to open with an overview of the current trends both within the 3D printing industry and academic research. This will include the challenges as well as the opportunities for additive manufacturing within aerospace applications such as developing industry standards and finding investment. Attendees will then receive technical briefings from industry leaders highlighting the challenges and development direction necessary to advance hardware and materials for space-based applications.
As the afternoon progresses, the discussion will broaden to examine the “current state of play,” recent developments, and future needs of additive manufacturing. At this point, attendees will begin to break away in order to discuss solutions to the challenges discussed, with the help of industry and academic leaders from NASA, Xerox, Virginia Tech University, and Penn State University amongst others. Once each of the key topics has been discussed in-depth, attendees will be regrouped, and findings summarized.
Who is scheduled to speak at the workshop?
Towards the beginning of the event, experts from a variety of organizations will present their insights into the future of additive manufacturing within a range of aerospace applications. Notable presenters include:
Michael Petch, Editor-in-Chief at 3D Printing Industry.
Brandon Ribic, Technology Director at America Makes: Rebic is the Technology Director of America Makes, the national accelerator for 3D printing and one of eight Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (MIIs) managed by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Before joining America Makes, Rebic worked for the Rolls-Royce Corporation, where he innovated the first-ever CMSX-4 AM repair for the company.
Justin Kugler, Vice President of Advanced Programs & Concepts at Made In Space (MIS): As Vice President of MIS, Kugler is responsible for leading new business development initiatives for the company across several sectors, including space-enabled products, exploration manufacturing, and on-orbit robotic manufacturing. Since starting at MIS in 2016, he has been an instrumental figure within the aerospace industry, and shaped policy and public-private interest around commercial utilization on the ISS.
Ryan Reeves, Program Director at the Advanced Materials Center for the Advancement of Science in Space: Dr. Reeves is a Materials Scientist in the Science and Technology division at the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory. In this role, he supports physical science research projects conducted on the ISS, with an emphasis on materials science, and a passion for demonstrating the utility of the ISS as an exceptional research platform.
How do I apply and when is the registration deadline?
There is no technical barrier to entry, and all those interested in participating in the Additive Manufacturing in Space Workshop are invited to apply now. The deadline for applications is fast approaching though, and applicants must register by July 27th, 2020 in order to not miss out.
We look forward to seeing you at the Additive Manufacturing in Space workshop on July 28th, 2020.
You can now nominate for the 2020 3D Printing Industry Awards. Cast your vote to help decide this year’s winners.
To stay up to date with the latest 3D printing news, don’t forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter or follow us on Twitter or liking our page on Facebook.
Looking for a job in the additive manufacturing industry? Visit 3D Printing Jobs for a selection of roles in the industry.
Featured image shows a previous R&D event held by the ISS National Lab. Photo via the ISS National Lab.
