Constructor Talks Podcast: Dr. Yilmaz Uygun on 3D Printing and the future of space manufacturing
Space: the final frontier, playground for the ultra-wealthy, or epicentre of the next industrial revolution? The answer may vary depending who you ask, but with governments, corporations and billionaires accelerating their ambitions beyond Earth’s orbit, one thing is clear: if humanity is serious about building a long-term presence in space, we will need new ways to manufacture the tools and infrastructure to sustain it.
On the latest episode of Constructor Talks – the podcast from Constructor University that goes beyond the press release to meet the minds behind the science – host Scott Peterson sits down with Dr. Yilmaz Uygun, Professor of Logistics and Chair of the Supply Chain Management program, to explore how 3D printing could transform manufacturing in space.
from campus lab to lunar surface
At the heart of the challenge is logistics. Launching materials from Earth is extraordinarily expensive. “On the one hand, when we’re talking about space, it’s the weight. We have payload,” explains Dr. Uygun in the episode. “If we want to build colonies on the Moon, Mars and beyond, we need to think about the infrastructure. Earthbound supply at some point would be very expensive. The best would be to use raw material that is always there,” says Dr. Uygun, referring to metals and other resources found on the Moon, planets and even asteroids that could one day be processed and printed into usable components directly in space.
What began as a novel research project has since grown into something much bigger. Dr. Uygun recounts how the large-scale 3D printing facilities at Constructor University evolved from an academic project into a commercial venture, eventually leading to the founding of Nebulaform, a startup dedicated to designing 3D-printing manufacturing systems for use beyond Earth. The company was accepted into the European Space Agency incubator program and has benefited from Bremen’s strong aerospace ecosystem. “Here in Bremen, we have a really great ecosystem for space and space technologies,” Dr. Uygun notes, emphasizing how engagement with industry partners helped refine the concept of pursuing 3D printing not just for space, but in space.
Bold ideas for big problems
The concepts developed by Nebulaform include a foldable 3D printer capable of self-assembling after landing on the Moon, where it could begin manufacturing tools, spare parts and structural components as needed. While Dr. Uygun readily admits that establishing permanent colonies on the Moon or Mars remains “a longshot,” the growing commercial interest here on Earth is already helping to drive innovation. “We’re currently exploring these opportunities and looking forward to seeing where it takes us,” he says.
This entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to tackle big problems is something Dr. Uygun tries to impart in his students, and feels the international, diverse community at Constructor University is well-positioned to promote in Germany’s traditionally risk-averse business culture. “Here in Germany, we love overthinking things,” he explains. “Especially when we talk about innovation, just do it. Otherwise, you start and you kill the idea in your head because of this overthinking.”
Check out the full episode to hear all of Dr. Uygun’s thoughts on 3D printing, space exploration and the intersection of science and startup culture.
The Constructor Talks podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon and YouTube, with new episodes released each month. Be sure to subscribe and tune in for in-depth conversations with top researchers, innovators and thinkers who are helping to shape the way we live, learn and understand the world around us.
