Space Foundry, Inc.¶
Investigated: Session ~6 (2026-04-05) | Updated: Session 69 (2026-04-07)
NASA Ames spinoff. Plasma jet printing of electronics in microgravity — functional WiFi antenna printed in zero-g. NASA Spinoff 2024. ODME ISS candidate. Expanding into quantum and defense.
Summary¶
Space Foundry, Inc. (Sunnyvale, CA) is a spinoff from NASA Ames Research Center, founded by Ram Prasad Gandhiraman after he developed plasma jet printing technology as an Ames contractor. The company licensed IP from NASA Ames and USRA. The FO project 106722 validated plasma jet printing of conductive electronics (silver traces, pads, interdigitated electrodes, WiFi antenna) in microgravity during parabolic flight — all functional — advancing TRL 4→6. The technology prints in a single step with no post-cure heat or UV required, making it attractive for in-space manufacturing. Space Foundry was featured in NASA Spinoff 2024 and is an ODME (On-Demand Manufacturing of Electronics) ISS candidate competing for a demonstration slot.
Outcome category: Active Maturation — FO parabolic validation led to ODME ISS consideration and NASA Spinoff recognition. No ISS deployment confirmed yet. Defense portfolio expanding (Army IR detectors, Air Force antennas, quantum sensors).
Confidence: suggestive (ODME candidate confirmed; ISS deployment unconfirmed; DoD contracts confirmed; Spinoff 2024 confirmed)
Archetype: Government lab spinoff → multi-sector commercialization
FO Project¶
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project ID | 106722 |
| Title | Plasma Jet Printing for In Space Manufacturing |
| Period | 2021-07-01 – 2024-07-31 |
| TRL | 4→6 |
| TX area | TX12.4.1: Manufacturing Processes |
| PI | Ramprasad (Ram Prasad) Gandhiraman |
| Co-Investigator | Dennis Nordlund (SLAC/Stanford) |
Technology: Plasma jet printing deposits conductive materials (silver, etc.) onto flexible or non-flat substrates in a single step. Unlike inkjet or screen printing, plasma-activated deposition does not require a heat cure or UV cure step — the plasma provides the activation energy during deposition. This matters for microgravity: fewer post-processing steps = fewer opportunities for failure. The technology is also substrate-agnostic, working on flexible, curved, or irregular surfaces.
Parabolic flight results: Printed functional: - Silver conductive lines and pads - Interdigitated electrodes - A WiFi antenna (functional)
All tested in microgravity during parabolic flight. Functionality was confirmed. This is the core validation that unlocked the ODME ISS candidacy.
Origin: NASA Ames Spinoff¶
Ram Prasad Gandhiraman developed plasma jet printing at NASA Ames Research Center while working as a contractor (associated with USRA — Universities Space Research Association). He identified the technology's potential for in-space manufacturing and founded Space Foundry to commercialize it, licensing the IP from both NASA Ames and USRA. This is a clean example of the government lab → licensed spinoff pathway.
Dennis Nordlund (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory / Stanford University) as co-I represents the academic materials science connection — SLAC's synchrotron facilities can characterize the deposited material structure at levels difficult to achieve in industry.
ODME (On-Demand Manufacturing of Electronics) Program¶
NASA's Game Changing Development program launched ODME to identify electronics manufacturing technologies suitable for ISS demonstration and eventual deep-space mission use. The goal: manufacture functional electronics on orbit rather than carrying every component from Earth.
Space Foundry was selected as an ODME candidate, competing with Iowa State University for ISS demonstration slots in 2024+. Selection criteria favor demonstrated microgravity functionality (which Space Foundry achieved with FO parabolic tests) and single-step processes (plasma jet printing's key advantage).
ODME ISS deployment has not been confirmed as of April 2026. This is the critical next milestone for the technology.
NASA Spinoff 2024¶
NASA Spinoff is NASA's annual publication highlighting technologies that transferred from NASA programs to commercial applications. Space Foundry was featured in Spinoff 2024 under the heading "Plasma Improves 3D Electronics Printing." Spinoff recognition is a lagging indicator of technology maturity and institutional confidence — it signals that NASA considers the transfer substantially successful.
NextFlex (America's Flexible Hybrid Electronics Manufacturing Institute, a DoD Manufacturing USA institute) also featured Space Foundry as a success story, indicating cross-sector recognition of the technology.
USASpending Portfolio¶
| Award ID | Amount | Agency | Period | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80NSSC19C0136 | $974.7K | NASA | 2019–2022 | Phase II — develop for infusion into ISM FabLab |
| 80NSSC21C0427 | $235.0K | NASA | 2021–2022 | Plasma jet printing for in-space manufacturing and ISRU |
| 80NSSC22CA041 | $223.8K | NASA | 2022 | SBIR Phase III |
| 80NSSC23PB577 | $150.0K | NASA | 2023–2024 | SBIR Phase I — plasma-based growth of diamond semiconductor in microgravity with controlled color centers for quantum applications |
| W911SR25C0022 | $204.0K | Army | 2025–2026 | Printed mid-wavelength infrared detectors using lead salt-based active layer |
| FA945323PA038 | $150.0K | Air Force | 2023 | Printed antennas for on-orbit manufacturing |
Total tracked: ~$1.94M NASA + ~$354K DoD = ~$2.3M
Space Foundry is a small company by contract volume. The FO project 106722 is not separately line-itemed in USASpending at a granular level in the above summary (it may be captured within the 2021–2022 NASA contracts or the FO program award vehicle). The $974.7K Phase II (2019–2022) predates the FO project and represents the foundational SBIR development.
New Directions¶
The 2023–2025 contracts reveal significant technology diversification:
Quantum sensors: SBIR Phase I ($150K, 2023–2024) for plasma-based diamond semiconductor growth in microgravity with controlled nitrogen-vacancy color centers. NV-center diamonds are leading candidates for quantum magnetometers and gravimeters. This is a significant technical leap from silver-trace printing.
Defense IR detectors: Army contract ($204K, 2025–2026) for printed mid-wavelength infrared detectors using lead salt active layers — sensor printing for military imaging applications.
On-orbit antennas: Air Force contract ($150K, 2023) for printed antennas specifically for on-orbit manufacturing — directly aligned with the ODME program pathway.
The plasma jet printing platform appears to be serving as a flexible deposition tool across electronics, sensors, and photonics — the same process, different materials.
Outcome Chain¶
NASA Ames Research Center (Gandhiraman develops plasma jet printing)
↓ licensed spinoff
Space Foundry, Inc. founded (Sunnyvale CA)
↓ NASA SBIR Phase II
80NSSC19C0136 $974.7K — ISM FabLab development (2019–2022)
↓ FO project
[106722] Plasma Jet Printing — parabolic flight, TRL 4→6 (2021–2024)
↓ results: functional WiFi antenna + electrodes in microgravity
ODME ISS candidate (Game Changing Development program selection)
↓ recognition
NASA Spinoff 2024 / NextFlex featured
↓ diversification
Diamond quantum sensors (NASA SBIR Phase I 2023)
Army IR detectors (2025) / Air Force printed antennas (2023)
↓ pending
ODME ISS demonstration (unconfirmed)
Timeline¶
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| ~2015–2019 | Gandhiraman develops plasma jet printing at NASA Ames |
| 2019–2022 | $974.7K NASA Phase II — ISM FabLab infusion development |
| 2021–2024 | FO project 106722 — parabolic flight, TRL 4→6 |
| 2022 | SBIR Phase III ($223.8K) |
| 2023 | Air Force printed antennas contract ($150K) |
| 2023–2024 | SBIR Phase I — diamond quantum sensors in microgravity ($150K) |
| 2024 | NASA Spinoff 2024 — "Plasma Improves 3D Electronics Printing" |
| 2024+ | ODME ISS candidacy — pending demonstration decision |
| 2025–2026 | Army IR detectors contract ($204K) |
Outcome Assessment¶
| Dimension | Finding |
|---|---|
| TRL advance | 4→6 — parabolic validation of full electronics printing in microgravity |
| Flight results | Functional WiFi antenna + electrodes printed in zero-g |
| ODME status | ISS candidate — demonstration not yet confirmed |
| Recognition | NASA Spinoff 2024, NextFlex featured |
| Defense expansion | Army and Air Force contracts confirm dual-use relevance |
| Quantum pivot | Diamond NV-center printing — significant new frontier |
Session 69 Update: ODME Status, Quantum SBIR, Full TechPort Footprint¶
ODME ISS Demonstration — Space Foundry NOT Selected¶
The GCD ODME project (116412) completed September 2025 at TRL 6. The ISS path forward is through the SEADS project (155248), which uses electrohydrodynamic (EHD) inkjet printing in partnership with Intel, NAU, Fujifilm, TEL, and Axiom Space — not plasma jet printing. SEADS achieved a key milestone in March 2024: EHD-printed insulator and semiconductor on a conducting material in microgravity. The FabLab Printer Module is also being advanced by Redwire (bound metal additive manufacturing for titanium parts).
Space Foundry was evaluated as part of the ODME pipeline but was not selected as the prime for ISS demonstration. The ISM Portfolio Plan (NTRS 20250004020, 2025) does not name Space Foundry in the forward plan.
This is a definitive downgrade from the Session ~6 assessment which described Space Foundry as an ISS demonstration candidate. The plasma jet printing technology validated in FO parabolic flights was one of several approaches evaluated; the program chose EHD inkjet instead.
Confidence: confirmed — SEADS project manifest and ODME completion record show different technology providers.
Diamond Quantum Sensor SBIR — No Phase II Visible¶
The SBIR Phase I for "plasma-based growth of diamond semiconductor in microgravity with controlled NV color centers for quantum applications" ($150K, 80NSSC23PB577) ended March 2024. No Phase II award appears on USASpending as of April 2026 — a 2+ year gap suggests the Phase I did not advance. This was the most technically ambitious pivot in Space Foundry's portfolio.
Full TechPort Footprint (4 projects)¶
Space Foundry has 4 TechPort projects beyond the FO project:
| Project | Program | Period | TRL | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94708 | SBIR | — | →5 | Plasma jet printing Phase I |
| 102289 | SBIR | — | →7 | Plasma jet printing Phase II ($974.7K) |
| 113440 | SBIR | — | →7 | Plasma jet printing Phase II-E/III |
| 106722 | FO | 2021–2024 | 4→6 | Parabolic flight demo |
All completed. The SBIR chain shows progressive TRL advancement: Phase I (TRL5) → Phase II (TRL7) → FO parabolic flight (TRL6 confirmed in microgravity). TRL7 on the SBIR side suggests the ground-based version is more mature than the microgravity version.
Defense Electronics Pivot¶
The most notable trajectory shift: Space Foundry is pivoting toward defense conformal electronics. Gandhiraman has a confirmed speaking engagement at "The Future of Electronics RESHAPED 2026" (Computer History Museum, Mountain View, June 10–11, 2026), presenting "Plasma Jet Printing of Conformal Electronics for Electronic Warfare" and unveiling a new conformal electronics printer at the exhibit. This is the first product launch signal since 2023.
The Army MWIR detector contract (lead salt active layer, $204K, 2025) connects directly to this EW focus — lead salt MWIR detectors are used in missile seekers, targeting pods, and ISR systems. The trajectory: NASA ISM → defense electronics manufacturing.
No New NASA Contracts / No VC Funding¶
USASpending shows no new awards since the Army IR detector contract (W911SR25C0022, $204K, 2025). The diamond quantum SBIR Phase I (ended March 2024) did not lead to Phase II. No equity funding rounds visible in Crunchbase, PitchBook, or SEC EDGAR. The company remains in the government-contract-funded model. Total contract portfolio remains ~$2.3M.
Gandhiraman Status¶
Confirmed still CEO and Founder via LinkedIn and conference registrations. No co-founders or leadership team changes visible.
Open Threads¶
- ~~Has ODME selected Space Foundry for an ISS flight demonstration?~~ Resolved Session 69: No. ODME completed Sep 2025. ISS path is through SEADS (EHD inkjet, Intel/Fujifilm/Axiom partnership). Space Foundry not in ISM Portfolio Plan.
- ~~Did diamond quantum SBIR Phase I lead to Phase II?~~ Resolved Session 69: No Phase II visible after 2+ years. Did not advance.
- ~~Is Gandhiraman still personally leading?~~ Resolved Session 69: Yes, still CEO and Founder. Conference speaker June 2026.
- Will the June 2026 conformal electronics printer launch attract defense customers or VC funding?
- Is the MWIR detector work (Army $204K) a one-off study or the start of a defense product line?
Cross-references¶
- fo-portfolio-tracker.md
- topics/in-space-manufacturing.md — if page exists
- programs/flight-opportunities.md — TX12 manufacturing cluster