The ATLANT3D Nanofabricator is capable of printing sensors, applying surface coating, and conducting material development on demand, using high precision atomic layer deposition (ALD). In standard ALD a thin film is deposited across a full surface by repeated, alternated exposure of a precursor gas and a reactant gas. The technology of ATLANT3D is different from traditional ALD and spatial ALD techniques, as the machine can deposit materials at precise positions growing nanometer thick structures, thereby avoiding otherwise necessary steps of post-processing. ATLANT 3D offers a unique solution that avoids the handling of liquids, locking its chemical in chemically resistant sponges via surface tension. Furthermore the precursor chemicals are safely stored in stainless steel vessels. Since the printing technology is based on gas delivery, the system is being driven by differences in pressures between source of inert gas at low pressure and vacuum, hence is gravity independent. This capability opens significant possibilities for in-situ manufacturing and repair of electronic equipment parts (sensors, chips, antennas) to support long-term exploration missions or spacecraft parts manufacturing and maintenance. An early prototype has been delivered to NASA, to perform a one-off experimental demonstration of the principle of the technology in orbit, with a launch expected in 2023. In the proposed activity, a demonstrator showing full printing capability of complex geometries, for different materials, will be developed. This will be a step towards building fully qualified equipment that can be tested on ISS. Such capability would allow for rapid production of electronic parts directly in Space, with the ease of a file transfer, thereby reducing the reliance on electronics products shipped from Earth, in particular for remote exploration missions. Such in-situ manufacturing capability would also support the emerging market for on-orbit servicing of spacecraft.
