Fly Me to the Moon – Testing Additive Materials Performance in Space

Conference Abstract: Space environments and Lunar missions are rigorous, and require parts made with the highest performing materials. Despite our increased operations in space, much is still unknown about the environments, and how advanced materials will perform. The growth of additive manufacturing (AM) for aerospace applications will require advances in additive materials to push the boundaries.

Join this session to learn how Northrop Grumman will test the performance of AM materials on a 2024 Aegis lunar mission as a part of a NASA Tipping Point program. You will hear about three planned experiments, the first an assessment of high-performance materials from several AM materials suppliers, including Stratasys' PEKK-based thermoplastic, Antero® 800NA FDM® filament filled with tungsten and ceramic-filled Somos Perform, and their ability to shield against harmful radiation. The second experiment seeks to understand how various  materials, with ESD properties, perform on the lunar surface and respond to moon dust, UV rays, and rapid temperature swings that result from virtually no atmosphere on the moon. And the third, a printed pair of antennas from ARA (SI2) that will be operated in the harse lunar dust environments.

The aerospace industry has always pushed the boundaries of what is possible with additive manufacturing. These experiments will help all Government and Industry partners understand how to fully leverage additive manufacturing to keep people and equipment safe as we travel to the moon and beyond..