Drake State’s Frontiers Program Demonstrates Unique 3-D Printing Capabilities

Three years of hard work culminated for a group of students and faculty at Drake State Community & Technical College on Monday, November 28. Dozens gathered as the Frontiers Research Program demonstrated their unique ability to 3D print living spaces on the moon while only using materials similar to those found on the moon’s surface. 

“Today, we are delivering on a promise,” said Dr. Patricia Sims, President of Drake State.

“We promised our community and the delegation that if they invested in Drake State, that we would provide training for interns, develop a curriculum around 3D printing, secure the necessary printer and train our faculty. Today is a promise delivered on all those points.” 

In addition to supporting NASA programs, the work being done by Drake State’s Frontiers Research team is expected to lead to innovation and development that will benefit construction and advanced manufacturing industries throughout the North Alabama area. 

The Frontiers program was established in 2020 to support research in additive manufacturing and 3D printing for NASA’s Moon to Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technology Project (MMPACT). The MMPACT project aims to deliver on demand capabilities to create livable and workable infrastructure on the lunar surface via construction of landing pads, habitats, shelters, roadways, berms and blast shields using lunar based materials.  

Drake State is the first community college and only historically Black community college to receive an award from Marshall’s Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) opportunity since its inception in 2013.

The program received additional funding in 2021 through NASA’s Inclusion Across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) award. They were one of only six schools in the country to receive the award. 

In addition to getting hands on experience in a rapidly growing 3D printing industry, the interns who participate in the Frontiers Research Program are automatically eligible to continue their education in the field after leaving Drake State. The school was able to merge the curriculum designed for the Frontiers Program with Middle Tennessee State University, which allows graduates to obtain a “2+2” degree while still paying in state tuition.

Images provided Drake State.