ISSEM: A Proposed Manufacturing Methodology for Modular Orbital Construction
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Working Draft v1, not peer reviewed.The construction of large spacecraft and orbital structures is constrained by the dimensions, mass, and environmental requirements associated with launching structural components from Earth. Conventional in-space assembly (ISA) relies on transporting separately manufactured structural members into orbit, where they are connected to form larger structures. This paper proposes an alternative manufacturing methodology, In-Space Segment Molding (ISSEM), in which reusable molds and a liquid structural feedstock are transported into orbit and used to form structural segments directly in the space environment. Once cured, these segments can be removed from their molds, inspected, and joined through in-space assembly to construct larger modular structures.
Author: Troy McTee, Rue McTee
Institution: The University of Texas at Arlington
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225814595
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