The European Space Agency (ESA) has achieved a significant milestone by successfully 3D printing the first metal part aboard the International Space Station (ISS), expanding on previous plastic printing capabilities.
ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen played a key role in the installation of the 3D metal printer aboard the ISS, showcasing a step forward in on-demand manufacturing in space and potentially improving sustainability by considering recycling space debris.
Rob Postema, ESA’s Project Manager for Metal 3D printing, emphasized the challenges and the long-term vision of creating 'circular' solutions that could utilize space debris as raw materials for manufacturing, although he notes current solutions are still being evaluated.
The 3D metal printing process in microgravity is complex and requires careful monitoring, as each sample takes up to 25 days to print, highlighting the intricacies involved in producing parts in space.
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