On board the International Space Station (ISS), two female astronauts have one 3D printer a metal part printed. Plastic parts had previously been produced there, but never a metal part, explained the European space agency ESA. The printer was built by the company Airbus and their partners.
shows the Americans Jeanette Epps and Sunita Williamshow to put the printer into operation. The result is a complex part with several arms, which the two pack in bubble wrap.
➤ Read more:
Part is sent to Earth for analysis
The part is to be sent to Earth along with 3 other 3D metal prints. They will then be examined at the ESA technical center in the Netherlands, at the ESA astronaut training center in Cologne and at the Technical University of Denmark.
The ESA said such prints would be necessary in the future when people are on the planet for long periods of time Moon or Mars spend. Then the crews should be more autonomous, as organizing supplies becomes more difficult. Astronauts could do this themselves Making tools or repair equipment.
