advanced materials

DARPA’s Novel Orbital and Moon Manufacturing, Materials, and Mass-efficient Design (NOM4D) program is taking a giant leap forward, transitioning from laboratory experiments to small-scale orbital demonstrations. This groundbreaking initiative aims to revolutionize space manufacturing by developing new materials, processes, and designs for constructing large-scale defense systems directly in orbit. As NOM4D moves into its next phase, led by research teams from Caltech and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, it promises to unlock unprecedented possibilities for space infrastructure, from massive communication antennas to expansive solar arrays. Discover how DARPA’s visionary project could reshape our approach to space exploration and defense in the coming decades.