ESA’s Metal 3D Printer has achieved a historic milestone by producing the first metal part ever created in space.
The technology demonstrator, developed by Airbus and its partners, was sent to the International Space Station early this year. ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen installed the payload in the European Drawer Rack of ESA’s Columbus module. In August, the printer successfully fabricated the first 3D metal shape in space.
This groundbreaking product, along with three others planned during the experiment, will be returned to Earth for thorough quality analysis. Two samples are destined for ESA’s technical heart in the Netherlands (ESTEC), another will go to ESA’s astronaut training centre in Cologne (EAC) for use in the LUNA facility, and the fourth will be sent to the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).
As space exploration extends to the Moon and Mars, increasing mission duration and distance from Earth, resupplying spacecraft will become more challenging. Additive manufacturing in space will provide autonomy for missions and their crews, offering a solution to produce needed parts, repair equipment, or construct dedicated tools on demand during missions, rather than relying on resupplies and redundancies.
ESA’s technology demonstrator is the first to successfully print a metal component in microgravity conditions. While the International Space Station has previously hosted plastic 3D printers, this marks a significant advancement in space manufacturing capabilities.
Content Source– ESA
Nestor Sawayn is a U.S.-based tech journalist specializing in maker tools and creative technologies. His coverage spans 3D printers, vinyl cutters, paper printers, and laser cutters across North America, Europe, and Asia. Sawen’s articles offer concise, insightful analysis of the latest News, innovations in this space. Beyond hardware, he explores the creative potential of board games and tabletop RPGs, providing readers with a comprehensive view of both digital and analog maker trends.
Feel free to reach out to me at nestorsawayn@360techinsights.com.
