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Photo: Bruno Stubenrauch, manipulation of photo: LSG
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URBAN is a study aimed at identifying solutions for ESA’s call ‘Conceiving a Lunar Base Using 3D Printing Technologies,’ part of their General Studies Program (GSP).
Due to the high logistical costs of space missions, additive manufacturing (or 3D-printing) and in situ resource utilization have been identified as promising practices for the production of on-demand structures, functional items and replacement parts required for sustainable human exploration of planetary bodies and the solar system.
The URBAN study explores state-of-the-art additive manufacturing technologies on a broad scale and identifies the types of machinery and equipment that would be required for the construction of habitation structures, and the harvesting of building material in an actual mission.
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left: 3D-printer: Damian Minovski, middle and right: Visualisations: LSG
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The additive layer manufacturing process is further explored for printing smaller on-demand items from materials such as metals, polymers, ceramics, concrete, food ingredients, and living tissues.
It is assumed that the capacity to print up-cycled or down-cycled items from materials that have become superfluous on the base, will improve the efficiency and total cost of a space mission.
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The EDEN ISS Mobile Test Facility (MTF), a collaborative project designed and implemented by 14 consortium members from Europe and North America, has successfully landed in Antarctica.
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all EDEN ISS - Antarctica photos credit: DLR, 2018
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DLR deployment team, Conrad Zeidler, Matthew Bamsey, Daniel Schubert, and Paul Zabel were stationed in Antarctica at the German Antarctic research center, Neumayer III, to receive the two-container greenhouse that arrived in Antarctica on 3. January, 2018, via the South African vessel AGULHAS II. Also arriving on site to establish the growth trays and to ensure successful deployment of the greenhouse, were project team members, Giorgio Boscheri, Anna-Lisa Paul and Rob Ferl.
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The EDEN ISS containers arrived in Antarctica via the South African vessel AGULHAS II and were transported nearly 25 kilometers to the mission test site by Piston-Bully(s).
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The greenhouse facility was positioned on its docking platform 400m from the Neumayer III Station and all the internal and external hardware was installed, including the Atmosphere (Air) Management System (AMS), Nutrient Delivery System (NDS), Thermal Control System (TCS), Data Handling and Control Subsystem (DHCS), and the Illumination System (ILS).
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Power between Neumayer III and the MTF was established, as well as data links between the facilities and with the Mission Control Center (MCC) in Bremen, Germany. A final verification of all project system requirements was carried out.
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Plant growth trays were installed by deployment team members and new plants were sown.
In February, the EDEN ISS Mobile Test Facility greenhouse started its 10-month mission. The facility will provide fresh fruits and vegetables, as supplemental nutrition to the over-wintering crew of the Neumayer III station. Paul Zabel of DLR, will stay on with the test facility throughout the duration of the research phase in Antarctica, February 2018 – December 2018.
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This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 636501
Partners: German Aerospace Center (DLR), LIQUIFER Systems Group (LSG), National Research Council (CNR) - Italy, University Of Guelph, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Enginsoft, Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space Italia, Arescosmo, Wageningen University and Research, Heliospectra, Limerick Institute Of Technology (LIT), Telespazio, University of Florida
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ESA GSP Study: Concept Development of EVA Operations in EAC Neutral Buoyancy Facility for Extra-terrestrial Surface Explorations
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MOONDIVE is a study performed within ESA’s General Studies Programme looking at the Concept Development of EVA Operations in EAC Neutral Buoyancy Facility for Extra-terrestrial Surface Explorations.
The study was conducted by consortium members, COMEX, Space Applications Services, Space Diving (SDT&S), and Wyle. LIQUIFER Systems Group produced the project video.
The starting place for the study was Europe’s unique Neutral Buoyancy Facility (NBF) at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC), Cologne, which currently serves as a Training Facility for Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Training of European Astronauts in simulated microgravity, as well as a simulation site for lunar partial gravity. The MOONDIVE study explores the efforts needed to further adapt the EAC’s Neutral Buoyancy Facility in Cologne to more precisely meet the needs of researchers to accurately test mission operations and train astronauts for new mission destinations such as the Moon and asteroids.
The implementation of study findings would allow Europe to contribute significantly to the international effort to make such missions become a reality in the future. The project video produced by LIQUIFER Systems Group highlights the key findings of the study in a way that is approachable to the public.
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The Space Architecture conversation is important for us to be having, right here, on Earth.
LIQUIFER Systems Group team members ‘Spread the Word’ on recent developments within the field of space research and development, and what that means for humanity.
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5.2.2018
Space Architecture Workshop, International Space University, France
Guest lecturer: Barbara Imhof, LIQUIFER
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23.2.2018
Aesthetic perception of zero-g, conversation with the Zero Gravity Team, Barcelona Mobile Week, Barcelona, Spain
Invited participants: Barbara Imhof, LIQUIFER and Albert Barque Marc Marzenit, Elisa R. Ferrè from the zero-g band - initated by QuoArtis
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13-16.3.2018
Niamh Shaw in a spacesuit designed and fabricated by Waltraut Hoheneder, LIQUIFER, performing "Diary of a Martian Beekeeper" at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin
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