IIT Madras researchers on a mission to develop applied sciences for area exploration

The microgravity tower at IIT Madras, the fourth largest operational facility on the earth, put in on the campus in 2017
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association

ExTeM, or Extraterrestrial Manufacturing, a centre on the Indian Institute of Know-how, Madras (IIT Madras), discovered point out within the Prime Minister’s Maan Ki Baat not too long ago. The PM stated the researchers had been engaged on applied sciences that may very well be developed and utilized in outer area. 

To elaborate, ExTem researchers, who come from varied disciplines, are working to develop applied sciences for future human settlement on the Moon and Mars. Their experiments embody tackling challenges of development infrastructure, 3D printing instruments, and extracting supplies essential for sustainable area exploration. 

Established below the Institute of Eminence scheme, ExTeM goals to advance India’s area 2.0 initiatives and broaden entry to area for numerous industries, together with useful resource extraction, infrastructure improvement, and pharmaceutical analysis. 

Microgravity drop tower 

The researchers are investigating the distinctive advantages of microgravity environments, which permit for the manufacturing of superior supplies, similar to crystal-free optical fibres with superior properties and higher-quality diamonds, all with potential functions on Earth. Researchers are additionally learning the behaviour of useful microbes in microgravity. 

The ExTeM group contains professors and analysis college students from civil engineering, metallurgy, biotechnology, mechanical engineering, and physics engaged on varied areas, together with creating development supplies, conducting parabolic flights, creating waterless concrete utilizing Martian soil, methods to boost microbial progress, rising higher crystals in area utilizing microgravity, welding, and changing lunar soil into metals and ceramics. 

On the institute’s microgravity drop tower, the fourth largest operational tower on the earth, experiments are executed below microgravity circumstances as present in outer area (synthetic zero gravity), because of the work of Amit Kumar, an aerospace engineering professor. 

Making in area for area  

Institute director V. Kamakoti stated as area stations have gotten essential for exploratory research, local weather modelling, and enviro-studies, there may be a lot discuss creating settlements on the Moon and Mars. It requires constructing applied sciences, which the institute has taken up as ‘Making in area for area’ undertaking.  

It includes creating superior methods similar to 3D printing of elements and in-situ useful resource use to provide important elements, together with lunar habitats and spacecraft components. 

ExTeM’s second focus is ‘Making in area for earth’. “An instance is the semiconductor crystals grown in area might have fewer defects appropriate for subsequent era chips utilized in quantum computing. The identical precept applies for superior optical fibres and bioprinting for human implants like synthetic hearts. On Earth, printing minute capillaries for the guts is difficult attributable to self-weight, which might collapse. Nonetheless, in microgravity, the place gravity’s results are eradicated, printing turns into considerably extra achievable,” Mr. Kamakoti defined. 

Researchers will harness sources accessible in outer area, similar to lunar regolith and Martian soil, to scale back reliance on earth-based provide chains, considerably reducing prices and payload necessities. 

Sathyan Subbiah, coordinator of ExTeM, stated the centre was addressing basic research and expertise developments. “A battery of microgravity assessments is deliberate in platforms starting from drop towers to parabolic flights and presumably extending to suborbital flights,” he stated.