3D printed cargo splashes down
posted 22 February 2015 at 21:21:38
For the past four months, astronauts on the International Space
Station have been putting the first zero-gravity 3D printer in Space through
its paces. Their mission was to check how the printer operates when printing
ABS using fused deposition modelling. A few weeks ago, the SpaceX Dragon
Spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, carrying – among other things –
a precious 3d printed cargo of 14 items. Now the parts are being rigorously
tested against control prints fabricated here on Earth. If the experiment is successful,
it will be a further step towards the ultimate goal of sustainability in Space:
to be able to build things in Space, such as replacement parts, instead of
making them here and carrying them there. Watch this space to find out what happens
next.
Picture: NASA