Case Study

How would you make spacesuits while on Mars?

A NASA-funded research suggests Modix

3D-Printed Spacesuite Protorype

The University of North Dakota (UND) is collaborating with NASA on spacesuit research at the Human Spaceflight Laboratory. Led by Professor Pablo de León, Chair of UND’s Department of Space Studies, they have secured a NASA grant to develop a 3D-printed spacesuit prototype. UND has previously received grants that supported space habitat system projects.

The Challenge

For the past seven decades, spacesuits have been handcrafted using traditional sewing methods, taking thousands of hours by skilled artisans and costing $2 million each. These custom suits won’t be practical for Mars and other deep space missions, where there’s no on-site tailoring or quick replacements from Mission Control. The challenge therefore is to create pressurized spacesuits on-site and on-demand for such missions.

The Solution

The Department of Space Studies, University of North Dakota is using Modix BIG-120 and BIG-60 printers to print large sections of the spacesuit using innovative new materials and designs. For example, the department is using new 3D printable materials that are stronger and lighter than traditional spacesuit materials, such as carbon fiber and Kevlar filled filaments. The department is also developing new designs that use less material and are easier to assemble and repair. The 3D printed spacesuit is still in the prototype stage, but the department team is confident that it has the potential to revolutionize the space industry.

Sending 3D printers kits to outer space

Modix printers are delivered as self-assembly kits that could be packed tightly for space travels. It will be significantly more efficient to send a self assembly kit to space rather than sending an assembled large 3D printer due to the mostly unused empty space inside it.

The Potential Impact

Once the design is finalized, the Modix-printed spacesuit has the potential to revolutionize space exploration by making it more accessible and affordable. This could lead to a more diverse range of people participating in space exploration, which could spark new discoveries and technological advancements.

Prof. Pablo de León,Professor and Chair, Department of Space Studies, University of North Dakota, says: “We have been using Modix printers for a couple of years now with fairly good results. While we primarily use the Modix for the printing of large sections (the hard upper torso, which is the black portion in the photos) we also have been using it to print flexible TPU plastics for large sections, like the brief, or ”pants”-section”.

Information box:

Institution: Department of Space Studies under a NASA project, University of North Dakota and led by Professor Pablo de León.
Application: Prototypes, End-use parts.
Vertical: Aerospace , Educational
Printers: Modix BIG-120, Modix BIG-60

Case Study – How Would You Make Spacesuits While on Mars? A NASA-Funded Research Suggests Modix