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Astronauts 3D-print first metal part while on ISS
The accomplishment "paves the way for long-distance and long-duration missions where creating spare parts, construction components, and tools on demand will be essential."
NASA astronaut and Expedition 71 Flight Engineer Jeanette Epps configures the Metal 3D printer that manufactures experimental samples printed with stainless steel abaord the International Space Station's Columbus laboratory module. This accomplishment, made possible by an international and multidisciplinary team, paves the way for long-distance and long-duration missions where creating spare parts, construction components, and tools on demand will be essential," said Daniel Neuenschwander, director of Human and Robotic Exploration at ESA, in a statement. In space, as long-duration missions to the moon and potentially Mars take shape, astronauts will need a means of independently repairing or creating tools or parts for machinery or structures that would be difficult to carry onboard a spacecraft, which have limited capacity.
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