IIT Madras’ ExTeM Researchers Drive India’s Space Ambitions Of Human Presence In Space

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) researchers are working towards playing a pivotal role in shaping India’s space future of long-term human presence in space and expanding commercial opportunities in the final frontier. This Research will benefit space travel through ‘Making in Space for Space’ and people back on earth ‘Making in Space for Earth’.

This research facility operates a Microgravity Drop Tower, the fourth-largest operational drop tower in the world. It was installed in 2017 at the IIT Madras campus due to the efforts of Prof. Amit Kumar, Department of Aerospace Engineering, to carry out experiments under microgravity conditions (or artificial zero gravity conditions like those in outer space).

Working towards developing technologies for future human settlement on the Moon and Mars, ‘ExTeM’ (Extraterrestrial Manufacturing) Researchers are coming up with innovative processes to tackle the challenges of constructing infrastructure, 3D printing tools, and extracting materials crucial for sustainable space exploration.

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PM Narendra Modi also spoke about ExTeM in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address on 19th January 2025 when he said that this “Centre is also developing revolutionary methods like concrete construction without water….Today, our country is setting new benchmarks in Space technology. I extend my best wishes to India’s scientists, innovators and young entrepreneurs on behalf of the entire nation.”

Highlighting the importance of such research towards driving India’s space ambitions, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “Today, we are looking at Space Stations which are becoming important for reasons like exploratory studies, climatic modelling, and enviro-studies, among other areas. A lot of people are looking at settlements in space. One such exploratory is to have human settlements in Moon and even Mars. One of the important aspects of for ‘Making in Space for Space’ is building technologies for human settlements.”

Prof. V. Kamakoti added, “Further, ‘Making in Space for Earth’ is also a focus area for ExTeM. A great example is the semiconductor crystals grown in space may have less defects suitable for next gen chips used in quantum computing. The same principle applies to advanced optical fibers and bioprinting for human implants like artificial hearts. On Earth, printing minute capillaries for the heart is challenging due to self-weight, which can collapse. However, in microgravity, where gravity’s effects are eliminated, printing becomes significantly more achievable.”

By harnessing resources available in outer space, such as lunar regolith and Martian soil, ExTeM aims to reduce reliance on Earth-based supply chains, significantly lowering costs and payload requirements.

‘Making in Space for Space’ involves advanced techniques like 3D printing of components and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) (or Resources in Outer Space) to produce essential components, including lunar habitats and spacecraft parts.

IOE INITIATIVE

Established in 2021 under the Institute of Eminence (IoE) scheme at IIT Madras, ExTeM researchers are advancing technologies for manufacturing activities in space. The objective is to advance India’s Space 2.0 initiatives and broaden access to space for diverse industries including resource extraction, infrastructure development, and pharmaceutical research.

ExTeM also investigates the distinctive benefits of microgravity environments, which allow the production of superior materials, such as crystal-free optical fibers with advanced properties and higher-quality diamonds, all of which have potential applications on Earth. This falls under the category of ‘Making in Space for Earth’. In addition to materials, the behaviour of beneficial microbes in microgravity is also being studied.

Elaborating further, Prof. Sathyan Subbiah, coordinator of ExTeM, said, “The manufacturing technologies needed for space will differ substantially from the earth-based ones owing to the constraints posed by limited space, limited power, micro-gravity influence, and limitations to track process inputs and outputs and to recycle by-products effectively.”

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Further, Prof. Sathyan Subbiah, also a Faculty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “The centre is addressing both fundamental studies and technology developments. Microgravity influence in several physical phenomena will be studied, and the know-how will influence the process technologies developed. To this end, a battery of microgravity tests is planned in platforms ranging from drop-towers to parabolic flights and possibly extending to sub-orbital flights.”

RESEARCH TEAM

The ExTeM group at IIT Madras is spearheaded by a team of distinguished professors, research staff and students who bring expertise across diverse disciplines, driving innovation in extraterrestrial manufacturing. Prof. Sathyan Subbiah leads the efforts in developing ISRU technologies and manufacturing methods suited to microgravity environments.