NASA – Astronauts Now Using 3D Printing Technology In Outer Space

NASA is now enabling its astronauts to utilize 3D printers while in outer space.

In The Capital reported this morning that astronauts on the International Space Station printed the first object out on their 3D printer; an engraved faceplate for the printer itself. The project proved not only that successful 3D printing in space is possible, but also that the 3D printer can produce replacement parts for the spacecraft.

The faceplate produced by the NASA crew on the 3D printer is engraved with NASA’s logo, and also says Made In Space, which is the name of the company that created and tested the printer in partnership with NASA. The 3D printer has been in space since the end of September, when it was sent up with the private SpaceX rocket, but it was just assembled last week by Barry “Butch” Wilmore, the commander of the expedition. The actual commands for the printer were relayed up by NASA ground control.

So, other than a super cool concept – that being constructing 3D objects via a printer – what’s the big deal? NASA says that the technology represents huge possibilities for the future of space travel, especially for long-term missions. The technology offers NASA crews the option of producing replacement parts on the fly or to produce parts that weren’t anticipated when a NASA spacecraft left Earth.

Niki Werkheiser, the project manager for the NASA 3D printer program, talked about the technology in a statement.

“This first print is the initial step toward providing an on-demand machine shop capability away from Earth. The space station is the only laboratory where we can fully test this technology in space.”

NASA was very interested in seeing how the lack of gravity in space affected the printing process. As successful as the first test was on the International Space Station, it will still need to be modified and calibrated. In effect, every subsequent print will be altered from the previous one to make the project more successful.

“We chose this part to print first because, after all, if we are going to have 3D printers make spare and replacement parts for critical items in space, we have to be able to make spare parts for the printers. If a printer is critical for explorers, it must be capable of replicating its own parts, so that it can keep working during longer journeys to places like Mars or an asteroid. Ultimately, one day, a printer may even be able to print another printer.”

Those comments by project manager Werkheiser might lead some more creative minds to imagine printers building a printer army in outer space to attack the Earth. 3D printing is reportedly already in use by NASA on Earth to help build rockets to go into orbit. The successful operation of one in space maybe the next step to going even farther into space. The plastic for the 3D printer in use by NASA is flexible enough to make all kinds of parts for a spacecraft that aren’t metal. NASA says that other printers may be put into use in the near future, so 3D printing could be the basis of the first manned missions to Mars and beyond.

Aaron Kemmer, the CEO of Made In Space, released a statement regarding 3D printing in space.

“When the first human fashioned a tool from a rock, it couldn’t have been conceived that one day we’d be replicating the same fundamental idea in space. We look at the operation of the 3D printer as a transformative moment, not just for space development, but for the capability of our species to live away from Earth.”

What do you think about NASA using 3D printers in space?

[Image via NASA]