Astronauts create first metal part in space with 3D printing

Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) He used a 3D printer to produce the first metal part made in space.

The initiative was part of a partnership between the European space agency (ESA) and aerospace company Airbus to develop manufacturing capacity in space and provide greater autonomy for future missions.

The 3D printer, which weighs over 180 kg, was installed on the ISS’s Columbus module earlier this year and can be used by astronauts themselves to repair or manufacture mechanical partsThe machine can print parts up to nine centimeters high and five centimeters wide, and the entire process takes an average of 40 hours.

According to Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s director of human and robotic exploration, 3D printing metal in space is a significant milestone in terms of in-orbit construction capability.

“This achievement, made possible by an international and multidisciplinary team, paves the way for long-distance, long-duration missions where the creation of spare parts, construction components and on-demand tools will be important,” he said.

Getting metal 3D printers to the ISS was no easy task, as these machines are usually the size of a room. To make it possible to install them on the space station, Airbus had to reduce the size of the printer, to the size of a large washing machine, and place it in a metal box. This measure was necessary to protect the team from the extreme heat emitted by the printer during the manufacturing process.

The group of astronauts will also send some of the parts produced by the printer to ESA for technical analysis.

More structure in space

While construction work is still ongoing in space, it is worth remembering that scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) began developing “space bricks” inspired by LEGO pieces to design shelters on the Moon in July this year.

The aim is to use space dust itself to build solid structures on the satellite, thereby reducing the costs of space travel and sending materials back from Earth.

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