In-Space Laser Welding Technology Takes Flight

A NASA-OSU partnership conducts a welding experiment held in reduced-gravity conditions
April 2025
By: JEFFREY W. SOWARDS, ANDREW O’CONNOR, BOYD PANTON, AND ANTONIO J. RAMIREZ

Imagine a future where space is no longer a destination for a select few astronauts but a thriving industry hub where manufacturing beyond Earth’s atmosphere is routine. This is a future where factories orbit the planet, power stations generate life-giving energy for outposts on the surface of the Moon, and autonomous robots mine deep into asteroids to extract precious resources. Cutting-edge welding and manufacturing technologies will shape how structures are built, and a new workforce will emerge, bringing this f..

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