To Lead in Space, You First Have to Be in Space – or at Least Close…
NASA, Auburn researchers to test innovative dry nanoparticle-based electronics manufacturing system in unique zero-gravity demonstration
The countdown is clicking off with less than two weeks to go before Auburn’s Masoud Mahjouri-Samani, Godbold Associate Professor of electrical and computer engineering at Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and founder and CEO of New Venture Accelerator-incubated company NanoPrintek, rides the Vomit Comet.
His two-day venture into the belly of this iconic zero-gravity beast – a carefully controlled, microgravity environment created explicitly for space-driven research and experiments – promises to advance his mission to advance extremely valuable dry nanoparticle-based technologies from proof-of-concept to viable commercial application.
The Vomit Comet is a type of wide-body, fixed-wing aircraft that provides brief near-weightless environments for training astronauts, conducting research, and testing gravity-free technologies and applications. Versions of these airplanes are operated by the NASA Reduced Gravity Research Program and a slew of commercial parabolic flight providers. The unofficial nickname “Vomit Comet” became popular among those who experienced the sometimes-nauseating impact of their experiences.
Parabolic flight is a way of simulating weightlessness that was first proposed by the German aerospace engineer Fritz Haber and his brother, both of whom had been brought to the US after World War II as part of Operation Paperclip. Parabolic flights are sometimes used to examine the effects of weightlessness on a living organism but have recently been employed to assess the viability of a wide variety of space-based research, technology development and advanced manufacturing experiments.
How it Works
A parabolic flight gives its occupants the effect of weightlessness by charting a path that objects naturally follow while in free fall, affecting what it is like to orbit the Earth, causing the sensation and physical effects of weightlessness.
These aircraft are used to train astronauts in zero-g maneuvers, giving them about 20 seconds of weightlessness out of each 60 second dive. Masoud’s team and NASA will be working with Zero-G for this mission and will conduct around 20 parabolic sessions during each of his two days of scheduled flights, each dive producing a mere 20 seconds of experimental weightlessness during which Masoud and his team will be able to manufacture sample circuits, components and structures that can only be produced via NanoPrintek’s unique dry nanoparticle printing technology.
Using a specially designed, compact version of his commercially available fully enclosed system secured to the floor of the aircraft, Masoud will either be tethered to the aircraft ground or floating himself as he does his work in individual 20 second intervals – he isn’t sure yet, but he’s looking forward to it all.
“It is very exciting – to be sure. I’m not sure what I’m more intrigued with experiencing – the testing of the system we will be doing in zero gravity or the feeling of weightlessness itself. In any event, it is quite the opportunity.”
Why it Matters
“We must maintain our leadership in space, push the envelope of space exploration, and unleash its potential for both space and terrestrial applications,” said Mahjouri-Samani in an article late last year entitled “NASA invests $1.5 million toward creation of Auburn University Space Manufacturing Initiative” announcing an expanded relationship between NASA and Auburn’s advanced manufacturing programs and cooperative initiatives.
“To do this, we must have the capabilities to manufacture parts and systems in space,” Mahjouri-Samani said. “The need for in-space manufacturing impacts multiple missions, including in-orbit, on the surface of the moon or Mars’ and in deep space.”
Check out a short video of circuit printing below.
“The scarcity of resources in space, the microgravity environment and the high cost of transporting materials create challenges,” Masoud continued. “These challenges demand manufacturing technologies that operate in space environments and, most importantly, can reuse and recycle available resources.”
An Extraordinary Endeavor
“The Auburn University Space Manufacturing Initiative is a prime example of Auburn’s leadership as a space-grant institution,” said Steve Taylor, senior vice president for research and economic development at Auburn. “The Initiative’s research will be a driving force behind innovations necessary to advance critical missions and activities in space.”
Masoud couldn’t agree more. “The expansion of Auburn’s relationship with NASA via this zero-gravity mission is yet another example of our close cooperation over years of collaborative research and development with NASA,” said Masoud.
“Our expertise in closed-loop advanced manufacturing – particularly NASA-funded in-orbit-printing of circuitry, components and other functional structures and devices – will allow both Auburn and NASA to make important advances for these and many other critical in-space manufacturing opportunities.”
Supply Chains in Space?
“After all, there are no really viable supply chains in space – it takes far too long to send materials or components to the International Space Station, or the moon or Mars,” notes Masoud. “What we have here is an end-to-end, self-contained supply chain – from raw materials to finished circuitry – that is unprecedented. The small amounts of silver, copper and other materials we need can produce extraordinary results in a matter of minutes or hours instead of months or longer.”
“What we have here is an end-to-end, self-contained supply chain – from raw materials to finished circuitry – that is unprecedented.”
Back on Earth
In-Space manufacturing of circuit and component is the latest example of the expansion of next-generation applications Masoud and NanoPrintek have been progressing over the past year.
But it is by far not the only application that customers envision for Masoud and his company’s unprecedented technological approach. From aerospace engine and defense electronics systems to manufacturing flexible circuits for the Internet-of-Things to out-of-this-world applications yet to be created, NanoPrintek has graduated from NVA start-up to fully functioning, independent and growing business enterprise.
Back here on earth, Masoud and his team have already sold and installed four of NanoPrintek’s flagship systems and trained customers on their use – two within the past few months alone. And interest is rising rapidly across multiple markets, including one recently sold and installed at a major U.S. research university.
“I can’t really talk much about that one,” said Masoud with a wry smile, “we don’t know what they will be using it for – we weren’t even allowed to ask the question!”
Into the Wild Blue Yonder
As Masoud prepares for his latest mission, we would do well to reflect on those immortal words spoken back on February 20, 1962 – “Godspeed, John Glenn!” Godspeed Masoud!
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To learn more about NanoPrintek, contact Masoud Mahjouri Samani at mzm0185@auburn.edu
To learn more about Auburn University’s New Venture Accelerator, contact Lou Bifano at loubifano@auburn.edu