SpaceX will soon be carrying the first 3D printer to the International Space Station (ISS). 3D printers will help astronauts make any part of the spaceship themselves so that they do not have to carry heavy spares.
On September 19, SpaceX will be delivering thousands of pounds of equipment to the International Space Station, including a 3D printer.
SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk of Tesla, has been delivering cargo to the International Space Station since 2012, but it has never brought a 3D printer. It took the California company Made in Space a while to learn how to create a 3D printer that can operate without gravity, considering the printing is done in layers as they are pulled down by gravity, but they’ve finally done it. They tested the printer in an aircraft that does parabolic flight to simulate zero gravity.
The 3D printer will print plastic tools and parts for the astronauts in the space station, and they will be able to test how useful the printer really can be. NASA has also funded studies to look into the idea of 3D printing food for their astronauts in space.Thor Benson
Agencies/Canadajournal
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