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“The first trillionaire is going to be made in space” – Peter Diamandis
Industry: International Space Station (ISS) Resupply
Emerging Technology: 3D printing
We'd like to take you on a little journey into Space. So please read on to see how you may, some day, be able to eat breakfast while watching the Earth rise over the horizon of your new home planet.
Introduction:
Dear reader,
What’s the fastest you’ve ever gone? If you’ve ever flown commercially, the answer is probably somewhere around 900 km/h. At that time, you were probably also the highest you’ve ever been off the ground at about 11 kilometers high. That’s awesome!
Now consider the International Space Station, the ISS. It flies around Earth at a speed of 27,600 km/hour or 7.66 km/second, and at an altitude (height) of up to 435 kilometers. Not only this, it has people living on it full time! Over 300 people have been on it since it was launched in 1998.
The ISS is a flying home to astronauts that are constantly performing science experiments to learn more about how our universe works. They are learning about everything from what happens to the human body in zero-G to how to deal with a fire when you’re trapped inside a space station with nowhere to go.
Thesis:
Getting objects into space is a Herculean task. It requires a supply chain involving a tremendous amount of planning and security measures; furthermore it requires a tremendous amount of tests and approvals at levels of NASA that us as normal people don't even know exist. This project will attempt to help the reader to appreciate just how difficult it is to get things to Space, and then will show that 3D printing, as an emerging technology, is just about primed and ready to revolutionise how we think about Space and what we can get there.
What They Might Accomplish:
The colonization of space– that is, permanently establishing a home for humans off of Earth– is a very important quest for top scientists and research institutes in the world. Not just because it would be SUPER COOL!!!! but also because of other reasons. For instance, if Earth were to be struck by another meteor like the one that killed the dinosaurs, we’d be in for a really bad day. Or what if we run out of pretty, shiny things like gold and diamonds? What the hell would we do? We would have to go somewhere else to look for them. Right?
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| Orbital Distances from Earth: Notice how close the ISS orbits. |
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| Rocket Launch |
So, What's the Problem?:
We've now seen that getting something into space is really, really expensive. It's also dangerous and violent. The other problem is that it's not always known what pieces need to go up. Which piece will break first? Which will never break at all? Which tool will they need? Which tool might also break. It's far too expensive to send up a backup piece for each and every part on the shuttle. So, right now, what they do is send the parts needed plus the vital backup parts. While this is expensive, it's still possible.
But what happens when humans decide to colonize Mars? The journey to Mars will take up to nine months one way. What happens when humans are on Mars and they need a new 'a' key on keyboard? It will take 9 months for it to get there! What if something even more vital breaks and they need it replaced? It will take 9 months to get there! Basically, the ability to colonize Mars will greatly depend on new technologies, especially ones that allow manufacturing on Mars rather than manufacturing on Earth and then launching the part to Mars.
3D Printing to the Rescue:
3D printing was first developed in the 1980s. It is a manufacturing process that is additive, meaning that material is added to the structure that is being build rather than subtracted, such as when someone carves a cabinet out of a piece of wood. The reason 3D printing is the way of the future for manned missions to other worlds is that manufacturing can take place on the spot rather than having to go through a long supply chain starting on Earth.
Let's assume that there's a new piece is required on the ISS but it has never been there. Today, what will happen is that the piece will be developed by a group of engineers, then manufactured, then tested for its ability to withstand the forces of launch, and then tested for its ability to not fail in microgravity. Then it will finally be launched on one of the few launches that happen per year. What this all means is that a part reaching the ISS in an emergency, whether it's a standard part or a new one, can take months.
Not all parts, however need to go through this process. This is where 3D printing comes in.
Strategic Approach of Made In Space, Inc
As Made In Space,
Inc has a unique market position which is almost
impossible to be replaced in a short time, its strategic approach will no
longer be like others industries. Made In Space, Inc does not need to prey for competitive advantage, its strategic approach
should be focus on how to maintain its monopoly position of being a long term
supplier of NASA.
It is undeniable that the
approach of maintaining the monopoly of space 3D printing is the best way to
maintain its stable development. However, this could be a stumbling block for Made In Space,
Inc to discover the unexplored market. In order
to maintain its quality to its sole client, NASA, Made In Space, Inc’s products has to be more related to space, or even customized to NASA’s
needs. So the diversity and flexibility of its products are bound to be limited
or even decreased. Their products may not be as popular as others less precise
3D printing products in public markets.
The strategic approach of
Made In Space, Inc is singular but high
return. For the public market, the potential of its unique space 3D printing
technology will become lesser and lesser. However, when focus on its
monopolized market, the space 3D printing, the potential of its technology is
close to unlimited. Since human is still having very little knowing about the
outer space, the need stable 3D printing technology is still very strong. It is
a must that many new innovations or existing equipments will be needed in space
travelling, and Made In Space, Inc is definitely one of the largest parties who could be benefited from it.
The technology of space
3D printing is irreplaceable right now. Its strategic inflections point may not
be able to be seen in the coming 5 years. Unless there is a breakthrough of
space travelling technology, such as a cheaper and faster way of space shuttle
fossil. So the importance of 3D printing will be affected because the cost of
sending actual objects to space is lower.
Industry Analysis: 3D Printing for
International Space Station Resupply
Opportunities
Contribute to the Resupply of ISS
The use of 3D printing technology can help the astronauts perform station
maintenance, build tools, and repair sections of the station in case of an
emergency. For example, repair of essential components, upgrades of existing
hardware, installation of new hardware where time is too little to wait for the
resupply from Earth.
Reduce Cost of Spaceflight in Long Term
The technology could lower the overall cost of spaceflight.
Astronauts can use 3D printing technology to print delicate tools in space. It
could reduce the number of times of resupply missions, as well as reduce the
use of parts for spacecraft and space station.
Lower Time Cost of Resupply
The astronauts can use the 3D printing technology to print
the tools or parts in the space. They do not always need to wait for the
resupply from the earth. As the technology is under developing, the printing
time may become shorter and shorter in the future.
Contribute
to the Future of Space Exploration
The use of 3D printing technology in the space is a new
technology. If the technology of 3D printing in the zero gravity environments
becomes mature, 3D printing may play an essential role in the future of space
exploration (Made In Space, 2015).
Pitfalls
The
safety problem
3D
printer may emit toxic gasses in printing process. The 3D printing in space
stations is processing in a confined space. There is a possibility that the
emitted toxic gasses will be remained even though the filter system is well
developed there. After all that is not an open area likes Earth. If we need to use this technology in the space, we
have to develop a perfect environmental control unit to filter the harmful
gasses. The cost for use the 3D printing technology in the space may increase.
The cost for 3D
printing is high
As 3D printing is
relatively a technology with high cost of development, so the prices cannot be
competitive like other tradition products. Also, the popularity of 3D printing
is still under developing, so the existing industries with similar technologies
are still able to compete with lower production costs, which means lower
prices (Consestimate, 2014).
Who Are They?
Made In Space is a company that dreams of expanding the human horizons beyond our own planet and going further into space than we ever have as a species. Its goal is quite simply "enabling humanity's future in space." The company has been working closely with NASA to gain unprecedented and otherwise impossible access to research facilities, scientists, and most importantly, the ISS. Since 2010, Made In Space has been developing new ways of utilising 3D printing technology on Earth and in Space, and it has even developed a special 3D printer that operates in microgravity and is currently in orbit testing its capabilities. It is truly a company that embodies the principle "business innovation is is about new value, not new things" (Sawhney, Wolcott & Arroniz, 2006, p.76).
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| Zero-G 3D Printer |
Why is Made In Space, Inc Important?
Made In Space isn't just important for NASA or for the the ISS. It's important for humanity. By taking 3D printing technology into space, a whole new industry is being pioneered, and it's one that we will certainly need in the future. 3D printing is a technology that democratizes manufacturing by putting manufacturing plants on anyone's desk that wants one. This means that DIY (do it yourself) engineers all over the world can create things that would otherwise unavailable to them. What this also means is that anyone that wants to create and spread a product of their making can do so without having to go through a regular supply chain. He or she can now just invent, manufacture, and sell anything he or she wants right from the comfort of his or her own home.
In their book Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the World, Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler describe how 3D printing is not only able to change the world in reality, but how it is an innovative technology that is exponential in principle. What this means is that, as a manufacturing technology, there are no longer the limitations that exist in traditional manufacturing. An exponential amount of people can create at their desks, meaning that they can create products that reach an exponential amount of people as well.
What this means for Made In Space and for space innovation in general is that it's no longer a few NASA scientists that are sitting behind closed doors that are able to create projects for the ISS. Now, people can design parts themselves and share them with NASA. NASA can also design parts and share them with the general public to print on their on 3D printers and have the parts tested in a crowdsourced way, thus putting the parts through many more rounds of testing, and far more creative types of testing than ever before. What Made In Space holds as a foundational values are reflective of the ideas in (author)'s piece suggesting that businesses must focus on creating a clear purpose for the organisation – ie., creating technology that will change the way that future generations explore space – and ensure that you stick to those purposes at all times (van Hove, 2014).
Made In Space is creating an industry that leverages the scaleability of 3D printing as well as the necessity to do it in space as soon as possible.
Made In Space, Inc SWOT:
Made In Space, Inc. has the technology of Space's Zero-G printer, a 3D printer
which can perform the 3D printing stably in zero-gravity state. This is the
absolute advantage of Made In Space,
Inc. which is hard to be threatened by other company with similar technologies.
The unique technology of Space's Zero-G printer,
also help establish a good and close relationship with NASA. The funding of
SBIR, which is an award from NASA provides them sufficient capital to continue
and develop their company.
As the budget of outer space related projects is high, which means
the potential profit for Made In Space, Inc. is high too.
With its close relation with NASA, the Made In Space, Inc. has high possibility
to be the contractor of those projects when comparing with other companies
which are not the frequent partners of NASA.
Its close relation with NASA means Made In Space, Inc. is strongly
relying on it. Its passive role can be a bad side of the business.
As the outer space related projects are mostly political driven, and
politics can be an unstable and uncontrollable factor. Made In Space,
Inc.’s growth is easily be affected by the authorities and global economics.
For example when there is an recession, the public expenditure of America is
decreased, outer space related projects of NASA with
high cost are likely to be cut or even terminated in order to fulfil other
immediate costs.
As a 3D printing company with high technology level, their cost of
development is high. In other words, the space of error in research and
development is smaller than other businesses’ because it is like a one-shot
development. A failure product can cost them about their entire project fund.
Not only targeting on the high end customers like NASA, Made In Space, Inc. can also explore the market of low cost market. With
their technology level, it can massively produce the 3D printing products with
lower technology level and price. Since the trend is 3D printing is rising, the
market is yet to be fully developed. As one of the pioneers of this industry, Made
In Space, Inc. should start capturing the civil market of 3D printing.
Apart from civil usage, with its close relationship with the government, Made
In Space, Inc. should also consider their products in military usage. As
American’s military budget is huge, even much more than its space projects,
their technology will be a potential and popular in modern warfare industry,
for example applying 3D printing on ammunitions production.
As 3D printing is relatively a technology with high cost of development, so
the prices cannot be competitive like other tradition products. Also, the
popularity of 3D printing is still under developing, so the existing industries
with similar technologies are still able to compete against Made In Space, Inc.
with lower production costs, which means lower prices.
"The World's Biggest Problems are the World's Biggest Business Opportunities":
Conclusion:
3D printing technology is not a new idea, but putting it in space is. It's also a very risky one. We believe that the reason that this industry exists as a commercial endeavour rather than a government funded secret project, is because of how much more capable the general public is to advance this project exponentially as compared to a select few scientists and engineers.
Take for example the parts that have been 3D printed on board the ISS. Most of them up to this point are simply test pieces, but one is particularly cool. In December 2014, a ratchet wrench was emailed up to the ISS. Freakin' emailed!!!! How you ask? The plans were developed by an engineer at Made In Space over the course of a few days and then they were emailed up to the ISS. Then, on board the ISS, the wrench was printed and used. That's so cool, isn't it?
Emailing physical products to Mars rather than sending the actual thing is going to be the way of the future. There is no question. We've already seen that any other way is virtually impossible.
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| 3D Printed In Space: Ratchet Wrench |
Made In Space, Inc. is the first company to partner with NASA to develop 3D printing technology that is specifically designed for, and deployed in, outer space. The company has a very, very strong first mover advantage here, and it is either financially or publicly backed by some of the world's most innovative and successful entrepreneurs. As time goes on and the technology advances, new ideas are sure to come about that will allow other exponential entrepreneurs develop and launch new companies. The human race is getting closer and closer to outer space, and this 3D printing technology is likely going to prove to be one of the most important steps in that journey.
References:
Consestimate. 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2015 from http://www.consestimate.com/us/en/NewsExchange/Article/671168.
Diamandis, P. & Kotler, S. (2015) Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the World. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Diamandis, P. Retrieved 25 March 2015 http://www.businessinsider.com/peter-diamandis-space-trillionaire-entrepreneur-2015-2
ISS. Retrieved 25 March 2015, from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/STS-134_International_Space_Station_after_undocking.jpg
Made In Space, Inc. 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015, from http://www.madeinspace.us/projects.
Made In Space, Inc. Retrieved 26 March 2015, from http://www.madeinspace.us/#section-portal
NASA. Space Ratchet Wrench. Retrieved 26 March 2015, from http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/ratchet_pic1.jpeg.
Sawhney, M. Wolcott, R.C. & Arroniz, I. 2006. The 12 different ways for companies to innovate. MIT Sloan Management Review. Vol. 47 No. 3.
van Hove, M. 2014. Transformation through strategy and innovation. Available at Strategos. Retrieved 16 April 2015 from www.strategos.com/transformation-strategy-innovation/.
Zero-G 3D Printer. Retrieved 26 March 2015, from http://www.madeinspace.us/#section-portal
