Engineering Research Frontiers: In-Space Manufacturing and Autonomous Systems

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 to help identify emerging engineering research directions in this field. Nominate yourself or a colleague to join the discussion using the link below.