Research Focus
The vision of the SpaceMaRS Center is to develop the fundamental knowledge, science and technology for in-space manufacturing that will resolve major bottlenecks in manufacturing technologies while also developing novel materials that could withstand the harsh space environment. This team possesses key synergies in the areas of materials science, chemistry, synthesis, manufacturing and characterization under space conditions:
Design and Development of Space Resilient Materials
- Materials and processing of composites and hybrid laminate designs to protect against MMOD impact damage
- Materials, processing, composites design for thermal cycling
- Autonomous materials
In-Space Manufacturing of Materials and Structures
- Reusable composite structures and materials and ultra-low energy space-based manufacturing
- Smart, self-sensing inflatable and rigid composite habitats
Morphable and Multifunctional Space Structures
- Integrated research on the design, manufacturing, and mechanics of morphable and multifunctional space structures
Simulation of Space Manufacturing and Computational Design of Space-Resilient Materials
- Multiphysics materials processing simulations to guide and optimize synthesis and fabrication in space