Why do we Need to be Able to 3D print in space?
As Airbus and ISS celebrate the additive manufacturing of the first metal part in space, we highlight why it’s so important we can 3D print among the stars
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After seven months on the International Space Station (ISS) 400 kilometres above the Earth, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) metal 3D printer was able to demonstrate the feasibility of metallic part production in microgravity.
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Incredible news for the future of additive manufacturing, as the first 3D metal part was printed in space.
After analysis revealed that microgravity had no engineering-significant effects on the additive manufacturing process, the aerospace sector has been working on mastering it to form new logistics systems for long duration missions.
The 3D printer was built by Airbus, and was the first to be installed on a space station back in January of this year.
The printer model was also installed on the ISS Columbus module in may this year, with print operations overseen at the French space agency CNES from the control centre for ISS payloads.
3D printed parts and components have been utilised on the ISS before, but the entire process from design to production has never been completed until now in space.
This incredible achievement has been a long time in the making, with extensive collaboration between the ESA, Nasa and Airbus to make it possible.
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