Call for Visioning Event Participants: Engineering Research Frontiers: In-Space Manufacturing and Autonomous Systems

This is an in-person visioning event for one and a half days.

This visioning event will bring together engineers, physical scientists, biologists, computer scientists, roboticists, and policymakers to help define transformative research roadmaps for the future of in-space manufacturing and autonomous systems. This is an opportunity to contribute expertise and ideas that can help shape emerging engineering research directions in this rapidly developing field.

Co-Host: Virginia Tech

Theme Overview

Expanding high-value manufacturing across low-Earth orbit (LEO), cislunar space, and planetary surfaces is increasingly important to technological leadership, economic resilience, and deep-space exploration.

To transition from Earth-dependent supply chains to a space-sustained industrial ecosystem, in-space manufacturing must evolve beyond a simple Earth-to-orbit delivery function into a secure, bidirectional Earth–space logistics network and industrial base capable of moving resources, producing at the point of need, sustaining spacecraft, and rapidly regenerating capabilities across contested and deep-space operational environments.

Achieving this vision requires a dual-pillar engineering and technology framework that pairs Core Foundational capabilities – autonomy, robotics, and cyber-physical digital twins with Product-Centric manufacturing domains – microelectronics, biomedical systems, advanced metallurgy, and additive fabrication. The sustained absence of gravity-driven convection, sedimentation, and hydrostatic pressure reveals underlying physical and biological mechanisms masked on Earth. In orbit, these conditions unlock new physical regimes to accelerate crystal growth, deposit uniform thin films, synthesize high-entropy alloys, wide-bandgap semiconductors, tailored nanocomposites unattainable on the ground, and drive therapeutic breakthroughs. Concurrently, persistent off-world operations demand point-of-need fabrication and assembly to build large-scale infrastructure, repair assets, and process in-situ resources without launch-fairing constraints. Bridging the technology and manufacturing valleys of death across the space enterprise requires deploying autonomous robotics and resilient digital infrastructure capable of operating independently of real-time ground intervention. By embedding edge-deployed AI, multimodal sensor fusion, and high-fidelity digital twins into robotic systems, orbital platforms and planetary outposts can autonomously execute precision fabrication, multi-material joining, and continuous non-destructive inspection.

The ERVA visioning event will explore a dual-pillar framework connecting the foundational technologies required for autonomous operations in space with manufacturing technologies that can take advantage of the unique conditions found beyond Earth.

Pillar 1: Core Foundational Technologies (Autonomy, Robotics, & Digital Infrastructure)
Pillar 2: Product-Centric Manufacturing Technologies

ERVA is now accepting nominations for visioning event participants. Participants are invited to contribute their expertise and insights on this multidisciplinary discussion and help identify transformative engineering research opportunities for in-space manufacturing and autonomous systems. Nominate yourself or a colleague to join the discussion using the link below.

Decisions regarding nominee invitations to participate will be guided by the overall objective of ensuring a successful visioning event. Following a review of nominations, ERVA will notify candidates who are selected to participate. This could also include further contributions during or beyond the scope of the visioning event. Those nominees not selected for this event will be considered, as appropriate, for future ERVA visioning events and other activities.

The Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA), an initiative funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation Engineering Directorate, will host this visioning event as part of its mission to identify and develop bold and transformative new engineering research directions and catalyze the engineering community’s pursuit of innovative, high-impact research that benefits society. The goal of the event is to collectively develop strategic visions for high-impact, high-reward, pre-competitive engineering-led research opportunities that will advance the United States’ competitiveness and prosperity. The event outcomes will inform future research directions and attract resources across the nation in industry, academia, federal agencies, national labs, and other stakeholders.