A spacecraft includes a plurality of deployable module elements, at least one of the deployable module elements including a robotic manipulator, the spacecraft being reconfigurable from a launch configuration to an on-orbit configuration. In the launch configuration, the deployable module elements are disposed in a launch vehicle in a first arrangement. In the on-orbit configuration, the deployable module elements are disposed in a second configuration. The spacecraft is self-assembled by the robotic manipulator reconfiguring the spacecraft from the launch configuration, through a transition configuration, to the on-orbit configuration. The deployable module elements may be in a stacked arrangement in the launch configuration and may be in a side-by-side arrangement in the on-orbit configuration.

A spacecraft includes a plurality of deployable module elements, at least one of the deployable module elements including a robotic manipulator, the spacecraft being reconfigurable from a launch configuration to an on-orbit configuration. In the launch configuration, the deployable module elements are disposed in a launch vehicle in a first arrangement. In the on-orbit configuration, the deployable module elements are disposed in a second configuration. The spacecraft is self-assembled by the robotic manipulator reconfiguring the spacecraft from the launch configuration, through a transition configuration, to the on-orbit configuration. The deployable module elements may be in a stacked arrangement in the launch configuration and may be in a side-by-side arrangement in the on-orbit configuration.

A docking simulator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is a docking simulator capable of mimicking docking between two flight vehicles in a zero gravity environment, the docking simulator including: a passive module which is disposed at a preset position; and an active module which performs docking with the passive module by approaching the passive module while performing a translational motion. According to the present disclosure, the docking simulator capable of performing, on the ground, a logic verification test for rendezvous docking between the two flight vehicles in the space in the zero gravity environment is implemented, and as a result, it is possible to perform more various logic verification tests for rendezvous docking by mimicking the rendezvous docking by using actual objects.

A method, apparatus, and system are provided for the printing and maturation of living tissue in an Earth-referenced reduced gravity environment such as that found on a spacecraft or on other celestial bodies. The printing may be three-dimensional structures. The printed structures may be manufactured from low viscosity biomaterials.

A method, apparatus, and system are provided for the printing and maturation of living tissue in an Earth-referenced reduced gravity environment such as that found on a spacecraft or on other celestial bodies. The printing may be three-dimensional structures. The printed structures may be manufactured from low viscosity biomaterials.

A system for manufacturing a space-based component while on orbit around the Earth. The system includes a spacecraft body and a solar collection device mounted thereto for collecting solar energy from the sun that is converted into heat. The system includes a manipulator device that moves a solar refinery to a position to collect space debris, where the manipulator then moves the solar refinery to location that uses the heat to melt constituent elements in the debris. The solar refinery also includes a collection element capable of separately collecting the heated elements. The system also includes a fabrication module that is operable to obtain solid, molten or vaporized elements from the collection element and fabricate the space-based component therefrom.

A system for manufacturing a space-based component while on orbit around the Earth. The system includes a spacecraft body and a solar collection device mounted thereto for collecting solar energy from the sun that is converted into heat. The system includes a manipulator device that moves a solar refinery to a position to collect space debris, where the manipulator then moves the solar refinery to location that uses the heat to melt constituent elements in the debris. The solar refinery also includes a collection element capable of separately collecting the heated elements. The system also includes a fabrication module that is operable to obtain solid, molten or vaporized elements from the collection element and fabricate the space-based component therefrom.

A system and method for manufacturing a space-based component in space. The method includes collecting and capturing space debris directly from and suspended in space, heating the collected space debris using solar radiation in a manner that separately and independently melts different constituent elements and compounds in the space debris, collecting the different constituent elements and compounds as they are being separately melted, storing the elements and compounds in a molten, solid or vapor form, and fabricating the space-based component using the stored elements and compounds.

A system and method for manufacturing a space-based component in space. The method includes collecting and capturing space debris directly from and suspended in space, heating the collected space debris using solar radiation in a manner that separately and independently melts different constituent elements and compounds in the space debris, collecting the different constituent elements and compounds as they are being separately melted, storing the elements and compounds in a molten, solid or vapor form, and fabricating the space-based component using the stored elements and compounds.

A thermal management system includes a sublimator that has a porous plate, a water feed line connected with the sublimator for delivering feed water to the porous plate, and an adsorbent bed in the water feed line. The sublimator is operable to freeze and sublime the feed water using the porous plate. The adsorbent bed is configured to substantially remove organic compounds from the feed water.