Space Construction

Notes

In-house study efforts at Grumman during the early 1970s indicated that a machine which could automatically produce beams in space would be a likely candidate requirement for construction of large space structures such as a solar power satellite. Further study under a seven-month contract with NASA indicated that near-term feasibility demonstration of such a machine which would produce aluminum beams was possible. Next, a competition was held to build such a machine, and Grumman was named the winner. The work performed included designing, developing, manufacturing, and testing of the first ground demonstration aluminum “beam builder”.

Additionally, a study was awarded to General Dynamics Convair Division under Contract NAS9-15310. The principal study results were developed from August 1978 through April 1979, followed by final documentation. Reviews were presented at JSC on 13 December 1978 and 24 April 1979, and at NASA Headquarters on 17 May 1979. McDonnell Douglas developed a composit geodetic structure under NAS9-1568.

References

Automated Beam Builder, NASA NTRS
Space Construction Automated Fabrication Experiment Definition Study (SCAFEDS) Part III, NASA NTRS