The International Space Station shines brightly in this image captured by ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour . A collaboration between five space agencies , the Station has been a symbol of peaceful international cooperation for 23 years . Weighing 420 tonnes , it travels in low-Earth orbit at more than 27,000 km / hour , circling Earth approximately 16 times every day . Photo © ESA
European Space Agency launches metal 3D printing in space
The metal 3D printing of stainless steel will soon take place in orbit for the first time . A pioneering European-made metal 3D printer was recently sent to the International Space Station on the Cygnus NG-20 as part of a resupply mission .
Text & images by European Space Agency
“ This new 3D printer printing metal parts represents a world first , at a time of growing interest in in-space manufacturing ,” explains European Space Agency
( ESA ) technical officer Rob Postema . Polymer-based 3D printers have already been launched to , and used aboard the International Space Station ( ISS ), using plastic material that is heated at the printer ’ s head , then deposited to build up the desired object , one layer at a time . “ Metal 3D printing represents a greater technical challenge , involving much higher temperatures and metal being melted using a laser . With this , the safety of the crew and the Station itself have to be ensured – while maintenance possibilities are also very limited . If successful though , the strength , conductivity and rigidity of metal would take the potential of in-space 3D printing to new heights .”
Printing in space Once it arrived at the International Space Station , ESA astronaut Andreas
Mogensen prepared and installed the approximately 180 kg Metal 3D printer in the European Draw Rack Mark II in ESA ’ s Columbus module . The printer is controlled and monitored from Earth , so the printing can take place without Andreas ’ s oversight . The Metal 3D Printer technology demonstrator has been developed by an industrial team led by Airbus Defence and Space SAS – also cofunding the project – under contract to ESA ’ s Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration . “ This in-orbit demonstration is the result of close collaboration between ESA and Airbus ’ small , dynamic team of engineers ,” comments Patrick Crescence , project manager at Airbus . “ But this is not just a step into the future ; it ’ s a leap for innovation in
20 Stainless Steel World April 2024 www . stainless-steel-world . net