Laser powder directed energy deposition and substrate-free single layer powder bed fusion under micro- and lunar gravity conditions

In-Space Manufacturing (ISM) needs material-efficient processes or the usage of locally available resources. This article presents two successfully applied approaches: Laser Powder Directed Energy Deposition (LP-DED) realized in microgravity on Earth for the first time using Ti-6Al-4V and substrate-free single layer powder bed fusion (PBF) under lunar gravity using LX-I50 regolith simulant. The Einstein-Elevator, a third-generation drop tower, is used to simulate the environmental conditions of space regarding gravity. The research results confirm the feasibility and open up new perspectives for space research, particularly concerning resource-efficient manufacturing technologies in future missions.