Launching Rockets and Building Intergalactic Communities
Much has been said about pollution and global warming that are greatly distressing mother Earth. Her ozone layer is continually being destroyed, increasing the planet’s average temperature to heights like never before. Sooner, the earth may be experiencing catastrophic changes untenable for future generations. Now that rapid technological advancements and the development of machine learning and artificial intelligence are on the horizon, could it be possible that a habitable planet can be found in the galaxy?
Some startup companies are at the forefront of the aerospace industry due to their advanced integration of intelligent robotics and cutting-edge 3D printing technology into the manufacturing process. For example, they are able to 3D print rockets, using special 3D printers capable of printing rocket parts up to 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide.
Using additive manufacturing by the aerospace industry has several advantages. It can speed up the innovation process as several iterations of the same design can easily be built and tested. The top startup can build rockets in a fraction of the time normally required. The parts manufactured are much lighter and stronger, simplifying the fabrication process and leading to improved performance.
Some companies are going beyond making rocket parts. They plan to 3D print entire houses optimized for living on the surface of Mars. A project involves using a stationary rover to build a vertical habitat from materials readily found on the surface of Mars, as per NASA’s 3D-printed habitat challenge. Rockets can also be reused resulting in a fraction of the cost it usually takes to carry out space missions.
Beyond launching rockets from Earth, there are plans of building a rocket in 60 days. There are future plans where 3D printers could be launched and assembled on the surface of Mars and materials can be sent from Mars back to Earth. Mars, due to its low gravitational field, can also be a launch site for exploring parts of the Milky Way. We see now that technology integration and collaboration among the major players in additive technology is the key to the rapid advancements in the aerospace industry.
