Astrobotic Collaborates with LZH and TU Berlin on Lunar 3D Printing Project

Astrobotic Collaborates with LZH and TU Berlin on Lunar 3D Printing Project
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 10, 2024

Astrobotic, in collaboration with Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) and Technical University Berlin (TU Berlin), is embarking on the MOONRISE project, aiming to implement 3D printing technology on the Moon. LZH has engaged Astrobotic for a lunar mission scheduled for late 2026, focusing on the utilization of laser technology to create lunar structures from regolith.

I am excited to announce our partnership with Astrobotic, a critical player in space technology. We are thrilled to have found a partner with whom we can, in the most literal sense of the word, elevate this great project, stated Dr. Dietmar Kracht, CEO of LZH. Astrobotic specializes in providing comprehensive delivery services for lunar payloads, serving both commercial and scientific objectives. The contract was awarded following a rigorous selection process.

The MOONRISE team is testing a critical technology for future activity on the Moon, and we are grateful to be competitively selected for the delivery of their payload. MOONRISE is a great example of the kinds of new ideas, new science demonstrations, and new countries that can make use of our lander delivery services to advance their own planned contributions to the burgeoning lunar economy, expressed Dan Hendrickson, Vice President of Business Development for Astrobotic.

LZH intends to equip Astrobotic's lander with a robust laser capable of melting lunar regolith to form 2D structures. The process will be documented by a camera, with the resulting images analyzed through an intelligent image processing system powered by artificial intelligence (AI). This AI will assist in selecting optimal melting sites and ensure the quality of the resultant structures.

In preparation for the mission, LZH is working with TU Berlin to refine the laser melting process using synthetic regolith. This ongoing research aims to optimize AI performance for eventual deployment on the lunar surface.

This venture, known as MOONRISE, seeks to pioneer the use of local lunar materials to construct essential infrastructure, potentially reducing the high costs associated with transporting materials from Earth. The project has received a 4.75 million euro grant from the German Space Agency at DLR, supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action. Key project collaborators include LZH and TU Berlin.