The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is actively seeking public input on its ambitious plans to develop large-scale „bio-mechanical space structures.“ This initiative aims to explore the feasibility of constructing structures over 1,600 feet in length that could revolutionize in-space assembly infrastructure.
According to the agency’s recent Request for Information, potential applications for these structures include:
- Tethers for a space elevator
- Grid-nets for orbital debris remediation
- Kilometer-scale interferometers for radio science
- Self-assembled wings for commercial space stations
- On-demand production of materials for repairing micrometeorite damage
DARPA intends to investigate new methods and technical insights to create these large, self-assembled, and mechanically stable biological growths in space. Utilizing biological engineering could significantly reduce the costs associated with launching traditional building materials from Earth.
By harnessing the rapid growth properties of biological materials, DARPA envisions a future where large structures can be constructed in space with minimal human intervention. The agency likens this concept to a tent, where biological growth mechanisms serve as the covering, providing necessary support for electronics and structural materials.
This innovative approach could potentially leapfrog traditional space station construction methods, pushing the boundaries of what is currently achievable in space engineering. A sponsored workshop is scheduled for April to further discuss relevant future research in this area.
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