Kaylyn Sethakosee | March 22nd, 2025
While polymer 3D printers have been in use in space for a while, the first metal part has been 3D printed in space on the International Space Station (ISS). Producing this piece marks a great accomplishment because before all metal parts had to be brought from Earth, taking up valuable square footage aboard the spacecraft.
The printing process
While 3D printing in space mirrors 3D printing on Earth in many ways, there are also some important differences that come with printing in outer space. Several adjustments had to be made by the astronauts to handle the gravitational forces present in orbit, which drastically differ from those present on Earth’s surface. Since the ISS is at a significantly farther distance from the center of the Earth while in orbit, it is subject to a much lower gravitational force than it would be if it were on the surface of the Earth.
The gravitational force experienced by objects a significant distance away from the center of the Earth such as the ISS is given by the equation
where Fg is the gravitational force, G is the gravitational constant, m1 is the mass of the first object (such as the ISS), m2 is the mass of the second object (such as Earth), and r is the distance between the two objects.
According to Daniel Neuenschwander, the director of Human and Robotic Exploration at the European Space Agency (ESA), having a team of astronauts from different countries specializing in different disciplines was an asset that helped the team come up with the creativity to make the adjustments needed for the 3D printer to start working. Once the machine starts working, a laser at a temperature of 2,192°F (1200°C) melts a metal stainless steel wire to serve as a versatile filament that is layered in the desired shape to produce the metal part.
The future of 3D printing in space
Being able to 3D print a wider range of metal pieces in space could allow for the creation of tools or parts to replace missing or broken items that would be difficult to bring on a spacecraft due to limited carrying capacities. Metal 3D printing also presents opportunities for advancements in the realms of manufacturing, medicine, food production, and even fashion and art in space. The bioprinting of tissues and organs when the time comes could also allow for longer term space travel with improved self-sufficiency for both future spacecraft and future crew members.
In the meantime, two more metal objects are planned to be 3D printed and then brought back to Earth for quality analysis and for future calculations.
References
Corless, V. (2024, September 14). Astronauts 3D-print 1st metal part while on ISS. Space.com. Retrieved December 4, 2024, from https://www.space.com/astronauts-3d-print-first-metal-part-on-iss
European Space Agency. (2024, January 31). ESA launches first metal 3D printer to ISS. Retrieved December 4, 2024, from https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/ESA_launches_first_metal_3D_printer_to_ISS
Tyson, M. (2024, September 15). Scientists print 3D metal parts in space for the first time — A key ability for long-distance long-duration missions. Tom’s Hardware. Retrieved December 4, 2024, from https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/scientists-print-3d-metal-parts-in-space-for-the-first-time-a-key-ability-for-long-distance-long-duration-missions