The United States Space Force (USSF) selected, under the Space Strategic Technology Institute (SSTI), or SSTI 2, to facilitate applied research in the areas of In-Space Operations, which includes Space Access, Mobility, and Logistics, or SAML. Through SST-2, Purdue is announcing a partnership with Texas A&M (Prof. Ambrose, lead) and world-class academic, government, and industrial peers to kick off a thought leadership for operational resilience in space and benefit Earth and Space. This opportunity, pursuant to the In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing National Strategy, will focus on the procurement of technologies relating to spaceflight experimentation and space-related signal, energy, and transportation technologies. Founded on this thought leadership and partnership, Purdue has launched a national center initiative for in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing, ISAM of CHIPS in Space for Space and Earth. 

“Purdue's effort on in-space semiconductors as part of the USSF SSTI, in collaboration with Texas A&M and other partners, is a critical contribution to the Space Force’s In-Space Operations SSTI,” said Nackieb “Nick” Kamin, Technical Director, U. S. Space Force Science, Technology and Research. Space Force envisions the institutes will facilitate and focus joint applied research on transformational space domain technology breakthroughs and developments that lead to the advancement of capabilities that can be transitioned and integrated into current and future USSF and U.S. government space capabilities. 

Purdue University’s leadership at the intersections of Space, CHIPS, also called Microelectronics, and Manufacturing is bar none. Purdue University’s President, Dr. Mung Chaing said, "Purdue is proud to be at the forefront of semiconductor, space, and manufacturing revolutions through education and research. The USSF grant will provide boundless opportunities for pioneering new frontiers and advancing translational societal impact. We look forward to the transformational space domain technology breakthroughs that are sure to come to fruition through this partnership.”

"Purdue University's in-space semiconductor manufacturing center (as a part of distributed SSTI-USSF) is pivotal to the future of operational space systems. We are thrilled that Ajay Malshe (Co-PI, SSTI-USSF) and his team of faculty and students at Purdue are leading the way in innovating in-space manufacturing to enhance digital footprints and operational resilience," said Prof. Ambrose, J. Mike Walker '66 Chair Professor, University Distinguished Professor and Director for Space and Robotics Initiatives, TEES.

As part of Space 2.0, the next phase of space endeavors, humans, commerce, and security are advancing to space as part of the Earth-Space interconnected supply chain and infrastructure. CHIPS and DIGITS are mission-critical for that critical infrastructure for robotics, autonomy, computing, communication, and more. Purdue and its partners look forward to the next giant leap to ISAM CHIPS in Space for Earth and Space. Purdue hosts large centers, national initiatives, and government and industrial partnerships in space, semiconductors, and manufacturing. “At Purdue, we have launched a national initiative in eXcellence in Manufacturing and Operations (XMO). XMO, at its laboratories, will host this prestigious initiative. We thank the USST, TAMU and our distinguished collaborators for their partnership,” said Prof. Malshe, Goodson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Co-Director, XMO, eXcellence in Manufacturing and Operations.