Made In Space Raditiation shields
Made In Space's radiation shields 3D printed in ABS plastic with the company's Additive Manufacturing Facility.
Made In Space has announced the completion of its three-part project focused on the additive manufacturing of radiation shields it launched earlier this summer, and tested them aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
TCT first reported the printing of the protective shields which are being used on NASA’s Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) – connected to the ISS – in May. Made In Space (MIS) used its Additive Manufacturing Facility to produce the shields, which grew in thickness as the testing phase went on. The first was made at 1.1mm thick, the second at 3.3mm and the third at 10mm, all in ABS plastic.
The shields include within them channels which hold Radiation Enclosure Monitors (REM), sensors being used on the BEAM to test for radiation, recording the measurements. Astronauts aboard the ISS would change these devices at regular intervals between April and end of June, when the project concluded.
Bigelow Aerospace
NASA BEAM
This artist's concept depicts the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), constructed by Bigelow Aerospace, attached to the International Space Station (ISS). The BEAM will be launched to the space station later this year.
BEAM is an inflatable habitat technology launched last year to serve two years attached to the ISS. Over the last few months as the testing has beam underway, MIS engineers have modified the REM design, improving the mounting groove area for the USB port. These devices measure radiation from all angles and have been developed and refined to help better understand the effects of radiation, when spacecraft orbits the Earth through higher radiation areas like the South Atlantic Anomaly.
“We have a number of product development interests related to this project,” said MIS President & CEO Andrew Rush. “The REM tests could lead to many improvements in spacecraft and habitat construction in the future. Right now, with our Archinaut development program, we’re working to manufacture and assemble large structures in space for the first time in history. Information from these tests will help us with our materials research and other capabilities development.”
“These relatively inexpensive and small tests will provide our customers with some valuable information on how to better design spacecraft to operate safely and more efficiently,” added Matt Napoli, MIS Vice President of In-Space Operations. “Another benefit to these tests is the fast, real-time access to data – NASA will know in a short timeframe how radiation is affecting these structures and at what level.”
