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Aerospace
Special Issues
Advanced Manufacturing, Assembly, and Testing Technologies for Spacecraft
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Advanced Manufacturing, Assembly, and Testing Technologies for Spacecraft

A special issue of Aerospace (ISSN 2226-4310). This special issue belongs to the section "Astronautics & Space Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 1324

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yanfang Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Astronautics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
Interests: intelligent assembly and testing; advanced spacecraft and ground testing; advanced manufacturing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The increasing complexity of spacecraft systems and the demand for high-precision, high-reliability manufacturing have highlighted the need for advanced manufacturing, assembly and testing technologies. Spacecraft undergo a complex lifecycle, including ground-based manufacturing, structural assembly, performance testing, fault detection, and increasingly, in-orbit assembly and in-space manufacturing. Each phase is crucial to ensuring mission success and system reliability.

To meet these demands, a variety of intelligent technologies are being developed and integrated throughout the spacecraft manufacturing chain. These include intelligent spacecraft assembly, flexible grasping and fixture design, automated sealant and adhesive dispensing, and precision measurement and inspection technologies that enhance accuracy and repeatability. Moreover, ground-based simulation systems, such as micro-/low-gravity environment simulation systems, have become essential tools for validating spacecraft performance. Additionally, advanced fault detection and diagnosis technologies ensure robust performance during ground tests and in-orbit operation, improving the overall resilience of space systems.

This Special Issue of Aerospace aims to present the latest advances in advanced manufacturing, assembly, and testing technologies, providing a platform for researchers and engineers to exchange insights on theory, methodology, and practical application. Submissions from academia, research institutes, and industry are welcome, including original research, review articles, and engineering applications.

Finally, I would like to thank Desong Du and Rui Zhou for their valuable work in assisting me with this Special Issue.

Dr. Yanfang Liu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Aerospace is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • additive manufacturing in aerospace
  • intelligent spacecraft assembly
  • flexible grasping and fixture design
  • automated sealant and adhesive dispensing
  • precision measurement and inspection technologies
  • micro-low-gravity environment simulation technology
  • fault detection and diagnosis technology

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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31 pages, 10739 KB  
Article
Multi-Point Contact Dynamics of a Novel Self-Centring Mechanism for In-Space Robotic Assembly
by Yuanxin Wang, Jiafu Liu, Shujie Ma, Jianping Jiang, Yuanyuan Li and Xing Wang
Aerospace 2026, 13(2), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace13020188 - 16 Feb 2026
Viewed by 220
Abstract
Autonomous in-space assembly using a free-flying robot can lead to residual vibrations and positioning errors of the target modules during the grasping process. This places stringent demands on end-effectors, which must tolerate large misalignments while maintaining high positioning accuracy. In this regard, this [...] Read more.
Autonomous in-space assembly using a free-flying robot can lead to residual vibrations and positioning errors of the target modules during the grasping process. This places stringent demands on end-effectors, which must tolerate large misalignments while maintaining high positioning accuracy. In this regard, this paper presents a novel self-centring mechanism, which consists of two self-centring fingers mounted on the end-effector and a double V-groove mechanism attached to the target module. The proposed compact structural design passively corrects substantial parallel offsets and angular misalignments between the end-effector and the module. A multi-point contact model consistent with this mechanism is then developed using the virtual sphere layer method to describe the self-centring process. This model incorporates a normal contact force model and a three-dimensional bristle frictional force model to characterise the multi-point bouncing contact behaviours during the self-centring process. Numerical simulations and experimental tests involving the grasping of a module with a single robotic arm confirm that the self-centring mechanism effectively eliminates initial misalignments, achieving sub-millimetre positioning accuracy. The measured parallel offsets and contact forces align closely with numerical predictions, with minor discrepancies attributed to environmental noise and vibrations from the elastic bungees in the gravity compensation system. Finally, the self-centring mechanism is applied to grasp two modules with a dual-arm robot in the Space Proximity Operations Test facility. The centroid displacements of the robot closely match the simulation results, further validating the accuracy of the proposed multi-point contact model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Manufacturing, Assembly, and Testing Technologies for Spacecraft)
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13 pages, 1147 KB  
Article
Experimental Study of a Planar Solid-Propellant Pulsed Plasma Thruster Using Graphite
by Merlan Dosbolayev, Zhanbolat Igibayev and Ongdassyn Yertayev
Aerospace 2026, 13(1), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace13010063 - 8 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 348
Abstract
The study presents an upgraded design and the results of experimental investigations of a solid-propellant pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) in which graphite simultaneously serves as both the propellant and the ignition element. The proposed configuration comprises a planar parallel system of copper electrodes [...] Read more.
The study presents an upgraded design and the results of experimental investigations of a solid-propellant pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) in which graphite simultaneously serves as both the propellant and the ignition element. The proposed configuration comprises a planar parallel system of copper electrodes and a graphite initiating electrode equipped with an electromagnetic discharge-triggering mechanism. Experimental tests were conducted under vacuum conditions of approximately 10−5 Torr at an energy-storage capacitor voltage of 800–1400 V. Discharge current amplitudes of up to 3.16 kA were recorded at a single-pulse energy of up to 4.41 J. The measured impulse bit was about 17.1 μN ·s, and the plasma jet exhaust velocity reached 11.1 km/s. Spectroscopic analysis of the plasma confirmed the presence of characteristic carbon emission lines, thereby indicating the active participation of the graphite propellant in the formation of the plasma plume. The present work continues previous research on PPTs with graphite electrodes and is aimed at further miniaturization of the earlier developed design. The primary objective of the study is the experimental validation of the proposed discharge concept in a planar parallel electrode configuration while preserving the key thrust and energy performance characteristics of the thruster. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Manufacturing, Assembly, and Testing Technologies for Spacecraft)
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Review

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33 pages, 4351 KB  
Review
Center of Mass Measurement Technology and Its Research Progress in the Aerospace Field
by Huan Wang, Qilong Jiang, Hanbin Zhu, Wenke Zhou, Chang Liu and Hongchao Zhao
Aerospace 2026, 13(1), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace13010087 - 13 Jan 2026
Viewed by 336
Abstract
The center of mass is a key parameter characterizing the mass distribution of an object, and its measurement holds significant importance in high-tech fields such as aerospace, the defense industry, and precision manufacturing. With modern engineering demanding ever-increasing spacecraft flight stability, control precision, [...] Read more.
The center of mass is a key parameter characterizing the mass distribution of an object, and its measurement holds significant importance in high-tech fields such as aerospace, the defense industry, and precision manufacturing. With modern engineering demanding ever-increasing spacecraft flight stability, control precision, and precision measurement requirements, the accuracy, efficiency, and adaptability of center of mass measurement have also become research hotspots. This paper systematically reviews current mainstream measurement techniques, including static and dynamic methods, while analyzing their respective advantages and sources of error. By comparing Chinese and non-Chinese achievements in center of mass measurement equipment development and engineering applications, it identifies existing challenges and issues in the field and outlines future trends in center of mass measurement technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Manufacturing, Assembly, and Testing Technologies for Spacecraft)
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