Mar 24, 2022
DARPA’s Novel Orbital Moon Manufacturing, Materials, and Mass Efficient Design (NOM4D) program is underway with eight industry and university research teams on contract. The selected teams are tasked to provide foundational proofs of concept in materials science, manufacturing, and design technologies to enable production of future space structures on orbit without the volume constraints imposed by launch. The vision is to ferry raw materials from Earth and collect lunar materials for on-orbit manufacturing. The NOM4D program does not involve building any structures on the surface of the moon. All manufacturing would be done in orbital construction facilities and the results utilized in orbital applications.
“Current space systems are all designed, built, and tested on Earth before being launched into a stable orbit and deployed to their final operational configuration,” said Bill Carter NOM4D program manager in DARPA’s Defense Sciences Office. “These constraints are particularly acute for large structures such as solar arrays, antennas and optical systems, where size is critical to performance. NOM4D aims to enable a new paradigm where future structures that support DoD space systems are built off-Earth using designs optimized for the space environment, shedding launch constraints. This would enable enhanced capability, improved robustness, operation in higher orbits, and future cislunar applications.”
For NOM4D, performers won’t be launching raw materials into space, collecting lunar samples or building structures on orbit. Any orbital experimentation would happen in potential follow-on efforts.
Forecasts by Communication Type (Point-to-Point Communication, Point-to-Multipoint Communication), by Laser Type (Solid-State Laser, Fiber Laser, Free-Space Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Laser), by Platform, Satellites (Aircraft, Ground Stations, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)), by Application (Satellite Communication, Earth Observation, Space Exploration, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Other), by Component (Transmitters, Receivers, Terminals, Modulators/Demodulators, Optics, Control Units) AND Regional and Leading National Market Analysis PLUS Analysis of Leading Companies AND COVID-19 Impact and Recovery Pattern Analysis
Download free sample pagesThe following research teams are on contract to pursue a variety of challenges focused on two areas listed below:
During Phase 1, program performers are tasked to meet stringent structural efficiency targets supporting a megawatt-class solar array. In Phase 2, teams are tasked to increase mass efficiency and demonstrate precision manufacturing for radio frequency (RF) reflectors. In the final phase, performers are tasked to demonstrate precision for infrared (IR) reflectors.
“Assuming current space technology trends continue, in 10-20 years we expect to see advances that will enable DoD to take full advantage of the NOM4D-developed technologies and capabilities,” Carter said. “This includes robotic manipulation sufficient to enable assembly of large structures from NOM4D-manufactured components, enhanced on-orbit mobility, and routine re-fueling of on-orbit assets. We also anticipate several other advantages, including more affordable space access and launch costs in LEO [low-earth orbit], GEO [geosynchronous orbit], cislunar space, and beyond.”