DARPA seeks ideas for 'large bio-mechanical space structures'

How to make them, and what to use them for

The US Department of Defense's research arm, DARPA, has put out a Request for Information (RFI) for "large bio-mechanical space structures."

It all sounds a bit like science-fiction, and DARPA has pursued more than its fair share of wild ideas in the past – the autonomous tank is a particular favorite of this writer – but the agency is all about pursuing far-out concepts in the hope that one or two might prove to be useful.

And so it is with bio-mechanical space structures. While that might sound like something from H. R. Giger's imagination that would feature in a Ridley Scott movie, the reality is more prosaic. DARPA is looking into the feasibility of "growing" a huge biological structure in microgravity rather than having to haul up the building blocks from Earth.

The agency is looking for structures more than 500 meters long. It envisages uses including vast nets for orbital debris collection, tethers for a space elevator, or self-assembled wings for a commercial space station. A long, slimy tentacle resulting from a hideously misguided experiment is not listed as an example.

While reality might not have caught up with the imagination of boffins, there is much to recommend the idea. Growing a lengthy structure in microgravity sounds like a good idea, stirring in some rapid growth and a solution for providing sufficient nutrients, and there's the potential to do away with at least some of the upmass headaches faced by humans wanting structures in space.

It sounds like DARPA is seeking something like a tree, spider silk, or perhaps some sort of skin.

"A relevant analogy is that of a tent," DARPA said. "Given the structural material of the tent poles, biological growth mechanisms are envisioned to be the 'cover' of the tent. The tent can be shaped a particular way by the underlying poles, and when embedded with appropriate electronics, perform a given function."

It's an interesting thought experiment. What would the use case be for such a structure? How feasible is the idea? Is there potential for a proof-of-concept experiment?

DARPA is planning to host a workshop in April to review and discuss relevant research and "wishes to encourage maximum participation and the presentation of as many innovative solutions as possible."

But maybe leave your eldritch horror at home. ®