NASA selects COSM for key design responsibilities

COSM Advanced Mfg. Systems LLC, Ipswich, Mass., has been selected by NASA to design an electron beam system for an in-space autonomous assembly program. The work will be funded by a contract from NASA's Langley Research Center in partnership with Orbital ATK, NASA's Glenn Research Center, and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.

Under NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, COSM will join a team of companies in a public-private partnership to establish a commercial infrastructure for robotic assembly and services (CIRAS) in space. The CIRAS program will advance key technologies for in-orbit manufacturing and assembly of large space structures that will help the agency meet its goals for robotic and human exploration of the solar system.

"The assembly and fabrication of structures in space under autonomous robotic control is, of course, extremely challenging. Our effort focuses on development of the electron gun and optics and beam control and metrology systems for this application," said Richard Comunale, founder and president of COSM.

To learn more about the program, email info@cosmtd.com.