SpaceMaRS Calendar

Organized by : Center for In-Space Manufacturing of Resilient Structures (SpaceMaRS) and The Grainger College of Engineering, UIUC 

Abstract: Space structures, vehicles and satellites have seen an explosive proliferation in the last decade with numbers increasing at a staggering pace: the number of active satellites is projected to increase from 14,000 today to 60,000 by 2030. In addition to increased government initiatives, commercialization of the entire spectrum of space activities, ranging from launching services to deployment of large constellations of space structures has been a steady driver for economic and technological growth. The economic activity and cost to launch large numbers of space vehicles and structures make a strong case for developing robust capabilities for in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM). 

Manufacturing for space and ISAM face major challenges that are not typical in manufacturing for ground-based structures, including supply chain, raw materials, transportation, energy demands, and environmental effects. Designing and manufacturing space structures must also account for a host of environmental threats that are not a consideration for Earth-based structures, including large temperature excursions, rapid erosion of polymer-matrix composites due to the combined effects of Atomic Oxygen (AO) and vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV) radiation, impact by Micro-Meteoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD), etc. 

The objective of this workshop on Roadmap for In-Space Manufacturing of Resilient Structures is to identify challenges and opportunities and generate a roadmap to develop resilient materials and structures for in-space assembly and manufacturing from the perspectives of fundamental and applied research. Integral to this roadmap is the development of partnerships between academia, government labs and industry to accelerate the deployment of new capabilities. Workshop speakers and participants will include researchers, program managers, and technology developers from academia, government labs (AFRL, NASA, etc.) and industry. The workshop will be structured around a small number of talks with ample time for discussions, focusing on the following topics: 

1. Resilient Materials for In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) 

2. Structures for Off-World Habitats and ISAM 

3. In-Space Robotic Assembly  

4. Characterization of Materials and Structures for Space Environments 

5. System Integration and CubeSats

The workshop will be held at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign on May 19–20, 2026. More information will be posted at:  [https://spacemanufacturing.illinois.edu].