Rob Hoyt told me about this when I was up in Seattle in November:
BOTHELL, WA., 17 March 2016 – NASA has announced that its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program has selected Tethers Unlimited, Inc. (TUI) for award of a Phase II contract to develop “Customizable, Recyclable ISS Packaging” (CRISSP). CRISSP is a suite of recyclable packaging materials, such as bags, bubble-wrap, and 3D-printed containers that are designed to cushion and protect equipment and supplies during launch to the International Space Station (ISS) and then be processed into 3D printer feedstock to support in-space manufacturing of tools, satellite components, and replacement parts.
TUI creates its patent-pending CRISSP materials using high-performance plastics that are chosen based upon their safety for use in space missions, their ease of recycling, and their suitability for use in 3D printing. “One really exciting aspect of the project is that 3D printing has enabled us to build novel vibration damping features into CRISSP,” said Dr. Rachel Muhlbauer, Principal Investigator on the SBIR effort. “Our Phase I effort demonstrated the ability of the CRISSP materials to absorb launch vibrations up to ten times better than traditional foam packaging materials, and the Phase II effort will develop and qualify a process for rapidly designing and manufacturing protective packaging that is customized for each payload.” To recycle CRISSP materials aboard the ISS, NASA will use TUI’s Positrusion™ Recycler, a suitcase-sized system that safely and automatically processes plastic waste into very high-quality filament for 3D printers.
“We are very excited to continue collaborating with NASA Marshall Space Flight Center’s In-space Manufacturing Project to develop a sustainable in-space manufacturing ecosystem for the ISS and future manned missions,” said Dr. Rob Hoyt, TUI’s CEO and Chief Scientist. “A typical cargo mission to the ISS carries about 25 pounds of packaging material. Currently, that’s 25 pounds of waste they have to dispose of. But with launch costs around $10,000 per pound, that material is worth roughly a quarter million dollars. The combination of CRISSP packaging materials and our Positrusion Recycler will enable NASA to transform this waste on the ISS into valuable feedstock to help manufacture and operate the next generation of exploration systems.”
Just think if the money being wasted on the giant rocket was going to more of this sort of thing.
This is really cool. This is truly a tech that is required for efficient long term habitation in space.
In addition, I could see this as a very nice value-add for earth based products. Very Eco, Very Green. Great spin off.
It would also make sense to manufacture any plastic parts on the station out of this material. If/when parts break, they can be recycled and the replacement part manufacture in situ.
I could see this as a very nice value-add for earth based products.
Except that they 3d print the packing material or at least some of it. Price has to be pretty low to compete with current packing material. Maybe when every home has a 3d printer and plastic recycler though.
Top 10 insults from NASA:
10. W’dya do? Blow that out your Positrusion Recycler?
9. Ha, that stuff is worth no more than $9000/pound!
8. Before you know it, it will be growing potatoes?
7. What’s that smell?
6. Ewww! I told you not to put THAT in the 3D printer.
5. Try and damp these vibrations!
4. When you gotta 3D print, you gotta 3D print.
3. Um, not very CRISSP.
2. (Number 2 — ’nuff sed).
1. Recycling, schmycycling. I want to see the flames it makes on reentry!
I was just struck by the perverse thought that if launch costs were down to only $100 per pound would anyone would have even bothered with this technology? High launch costs as a means to spur innovation? If that’s the case then NASA w/SLS is certainly on the right track to spur lots of innovation. But worthwhile innovation?
OFF TOPIC:
Rand did you see this bill offered up by Dana R. ?
114th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4752
To require the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to investigate and promote the exploration and development of space leading to human settlements beyond Earth, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 16, 2016
Mr. Rohrabacher introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
A BILL
To require the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to investigate and promote the exploration and development of space leading to human settlements beyond Earth, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Space Exploration, Development, and Settlement Act of 2016”.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) America’s activities in space have challenged mankind to travel beyond planet Earth and have provided us the opportunity to expand human knowledge, to extend the limits of human consciousness, and to improve the human condition;
(2) Section 217(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1989 states, “The Congress declares that the extension of human life beyond Earth’s atmosphere, leading ultimately to the establishment of space settlements, will fulfill the purposes of advancing science, exploration, and development and will enhance the general welfare.”;
(3) numerous independent commissions, chartered by Congress or established by the President, have declared space settlements as a long-range objective of the American space program;
(4) exploring, developing, and settling new physical areas are parts of our heritage and will most assuredly be parts of our future;
(5) United States space policy requires long-range goals and strategic direction in order to provide context for near-term space projects and programs;
(6) increasing awareness of planetary-scale existential risks to human civilization and the survival of the species make it prudent to develop a means to diversify the human population beyond Earth;
(7) the development of space will create new jobs, catalyze new industries, accelerate innovation and new technologies, and enable America to tap vast new resources that will generate new wealth, enhance national security, and provide Americans with new and limitless opportunities;
(8) the establishment of space settlements will inspire generations of future Americans;
(9) the human settlement of space is fully consistent with the policies and objectives articulated in the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958; and
(10) the adoption of a “pioneering” orientation by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an essential step toward enabling the establishment of space settlements.
SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ACT.
(a) Declaration Of Policy And Purpose.—Section 20102 of title 51, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsections (d) through (h) as subsections (e) through (i), respectively;
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection:
“(d) Exploration, Development, And Settlement Of Space.—The Congress declares that expanding permanent human presence beyond low-Earth orbit in a way that enables human settlement and a thriving space economy will enhance the general welfare of the United States and requires the Administration to encourage and support the development of permanent space settlements.”;
(3) in subsection (e), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new paragraph:
“(10) The expansion of permanent human presence beyond low-Earth orbit in a way that enables human settlement and a thriving space economy.”; and
(4) in subsection (i), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection, by striking “to (g)” and inserting in lieu thereof “to (h)”.
(b) Definitions.—Section 20103 of title 51, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by inserting, in paragraph (1)(D), “and development” after “exploration”; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(3) SPACE SETTLEMENT.—The term ‘space settlement’ means any community of humans living beyond Earth’s atmosphere that is able to economically sustain its population through a neutral or positive balance of trade of goods and services, and is able to expand its habitable real estate as need and desire of the community may warrant and international law permits.”.
SEC. 4. SPACE SETTLEMENT ACTIVITIES.
(a) Space Development And Settlement Information.—Consistent with the national security interests of the United States, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall, in close cooperation with other appropriate agencies, the private sector, academia, and the international community, obtain, produce, and provide information relating to all issues important for the development of a thriving space economy and the development and establishment of human space settlements.
(b) Report.—Once every two years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit a report to the President, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate which describes the progress made toward expanding permanent human presence beyond low-Earth orbit in a way that enables human settlement and a thriving space economy.
(c) Metrics.—The National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall, as part of its first report as required by subsection (b), include one or more metrics by which to determine progress made toward space settlement against which all subsequent reports as required by subsection (b) shall be compared. The metrics may be revised as appropriate over time to reflect emerging technological, economic, and other trends.
SEC. 5. REVIEW OF NATIONAL SPACE POLICY AS IT MAY RELATE TO SPACE SETTLEMENT AND A THRIVING SPACE ECONOMY.
It is the sense of Congress that the President should conduct a review of national space policy to incorporate as a long-term goal of the human spaceflight and exploration program to expand human presence beyond low-Earth orbit in a way that will enable human settlement and a thriving space economy.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4752/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5C%22hr4752%5C%22%22%5D%7D&resultIndex=1
No, but he’s been talking about it for a year.
Do you see it as just more legislation congress would ignore if passed or are members actually trying to get something going? Hear anything about it?
It will be interesting to see who co-sponsors. Bridenstine, for instance.