Weight, functionality, and sustainability are all critical concerns for future, long-duration, human exploration of space. Exploration missions will be mass-limited, since the amount of supplies and instruments that future astronauts will be able to take with them will be limited by launch vehicle and spacecraft mass and efficiency. Astronauts will need to have the capability to repair or replace worn-out or broke hardware and produce new components to be able to function for long periods at locations far-removed from Earth. Ultra-lightweight, multifunctional materials will be required to enable significant reductions in launch vehicle, spacecraft, and habitat mass in order to maximize payload. “Mass-less Exploration” concepts must be developed that will recycle materials and waste and convert available planetary materials into new feedstock materials and utilize in-space additive manufacturing to use these materials to produce the replacement parts and new hardware that will be needed during long-duration missions. This presentation will discuss future needs in lightweight materials and manufacturing for long-duration human exploration mission and highlight some examples of current research to address these needs.

Needs and opportunities in the development of advanced materials and manufacturing methods for future long-duration human space exploration

256th National Meeting (2018)

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