September 3, 2014

Image Caption: Mike Snyder and Jason Dunn, both from Made In Space, assemble the 3-D printer that will fly to the International Space Station in the company's cleanroom. Credit: Made In Space

Chuck Bednar for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

International Space Station crew members currently forced to wait for resupply vehicles to arrive with essential items could soon benefit from the arrival of a new 3D printer later this year, NASA officials announced on Tuesday.

The device, which was constructed by Made In Space Inc. and passed flight certification and acceptance testing at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama back in April, is expected to make its way to the ISS later this year aboard the SpaceX-4 resupply mission, the US space agency said.

The 3D printer will be the first to ever leave the Earths atmosphere, and NASA is banking on it being a game-changer. They hope that it will demonstrate that the technology can work normally in the orbital laboratorys microgravity environment, and that it will be able to produce parts equal in quality to those made on the ground.

It works by extruding heated plastic, which then builds layer upon layer to create three-dimensional objects, explained Jessica Eagan of the International Space Station Program Science Office at Marshall Space Flight Center. Testing this on the station is the first step toward creating a working machine shop in space.

This capability may decrease cost and risk on the station, will be critical when space explorers venture far from Earth and will create an on-demand supply chain for needed tools and parts, she added. If the printer is successful, it will not only serve as the first demonstration of additive manufacturing in microgravity, but it also will bring NASA a big step closer to evolving in-space manufacturing for future missions to destinations such as an asteroid and Mars.

Made In Space received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) from Marshalls 3-D Printing In Zero-G Technology Demonstration (3-D Printing In Zero-G) program to build the device. The project is supported by the International Space Station Technology Development Office in Houston, as well as the Advanced Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate and the Game Changing Development Program at NASA HQ in Washington.

If proven to be successful, the technology would greatly benefit long-term space missions thanks to the onboard manufacturing capabilities it would provide, explained NASA. The data and knowledge gained during this demonstration will improve future 3D manufacturing technology and equipment for use by the space program, while allowing astronauts to have a greater degree of autonomy and flexibility during missions, the agency added.

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NASA Planning To Send 3D Printer Technology To ISS Later This Year