Vacuum Impregnation Process for Extraterrestrial Realization (VIPER) for International Space Station Commercial Development

The Vacuum Impregnation Process for Extraterrestrial Realization (VIPER) payload seeks to advance process development fornbsp;Vacuum Pressure Impregnation (VPI) on-orbit to enhancenbsp;power generation equipment manufacturing techniques. The VPI process increases dielectric strength of an electrical assembly while enhancing thermalnbsp;insulation properties and mitigating potential catastrophic issues caused by Foreign Object Debris (FOD) in the system.nbsp;Expansion of power systems on orbit benefits colonization efforts in space,nbsp;maturingnbsp;motor generator manufacturing processes that impactnbsp;fluid managementnbsp;and safe operation of habitats. Whether energy needs arenbsp;localized to a craft or developed on a grid, the ability to originatenbsp;assemblies that are powered by ornbsp;provide power to other components in space reduces reliance on terrestrial deliveries.nbsp;Enhancednbsp;fabrication capabilities in space diminish launch risks, with delivery missions acting in the logisticsnbsp;chain for material resupplynbsp;purposes. VIPERnbsp;fosters increased self-reliance of space-based processes through advancement in the VPI procedure that enhances power generation development by supplementing current on-orbit pursuits while opening new opportunities for support technologies.