NASA Taps AnalySwift to Develop Repurposable Spacecraft Infrastructure

NASA has awarded a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract to AnalySwift LLC to develop technology that allows spacecraft infrastructure to be repurposed during long-duration space missions. The project focuses on the critical ability to disassemble and reassemble hardware while in orbit, reducing the need to launch replacement parts from Earth.

The award, valued at $156,424, establishes a collaboration between AnalySwift and Purdue University, with Associate Professor Kawai Kwok serving as the principal investigator. The technical scope of the contract involves the development of thermoplastic composite joints. Unlike traditional permanent bonds, these joints would allow structural components to be modified or reused rather than remaining static or becoming orbital waste.

The Technical Approach

To achieve these goals, the project is developing two primary deliverables. The first is a composite heater layer designed specifically for trusses, which facilitates the manipulation of thermoplastic materials by applying controlled heat to the joints. The second is a specialized software module titled "Thermoplastic Composites Multiphysics," designed to provide the simulation and analysis necessary to ensure structural integrity during the disassembly and reassembly process.

Why It Matters

As NASA pivots toward permanent lunar bases and eventual crewed missions to Mars, the logistics of transporting every necessary component from Earth become prohibitively expensive and complex. The ability to repurpose existing infrastructure in deep space is a fundamental requirement for sustainable exploration. By enabling the modular reconfiguration of spacecraft and habitats, NASA can significantly reduce the mass required for launch and increase the resilience of long-term deployments.

What's Next

This Phase I award serves as a proof-of-concept for the feasibility of thermoplastic joint repurposing. Future milestones depend on the successful validation of the Multiphysics simulation tool and the physical performance of the heater layer. If successful, this technology could lead to a new standard for modular spacecraft design, though the timeline for integration into active NASA missions remains to be determined. This shift toward modularity represents a broader strategic move toward circularity in space architecture, where materials are treated as assets to be managed rather than consumables to be discarded.