Patent ID: 7988096
Filing Date: 2011-08-02
Classification: B33Y,B64G

Abstract:
1. A system for machining, in space comprising: a first space based module allowing human habitation; a control system in said first space based module; a second space based module joined to said first space based module and having a machining system therein with at least one tool of a type for machining to fabricate a finished part within the second space based module from a starting material, with the tool automatically controlled at least in part by said control system in accord with design and engineering data received from the Earth based communication center by the first space based module and approved by humans in the first space based module; a robotic device in said second space based module operative with the machining tool and controlled at least in part by said control system; an Earth based communication center and a communication network connecting said first space based module to the Earth based communication center, the center having means for designing and engineering said part to be fabricated, with generated design and engineering data and, after approval by humans in the first space based module, communicated to said control system from the communication center; and a space based means associated with the control system configured to receive from the Earth based communication center said generated design and engineering data for fabricating said part using the tool and the starting material in the second space based module equipped with the machining system, wherein said second space based module includes a floor slideable in said second module and having a materials rack mounted thereon and wherein a floor of said second space based module includes floor rollers.