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Printers

Photos: How NASA astronauts are 3D printing in space

By Lyndsey Gilpin March 19, 2015, 8:18 AM PDT

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Photos: How NASA astronauts are 3D printing in space

Zero-G Printer

Image: Made in Space

Zero-G Printer

Designed to print in zero gravity, this 3D printer is being used on the International Space Station. It was launched in September 2014 and built in partnership by Made in Space NASA.

Image: Made in Space
Photos: How NASA astronauts are 3D printing in space

Launch of the printer

Image: NASA

Launch of the printer

The Zero-G printer was sent into space to the space station on September 21, 2014. It’s the first time in history that we have been able to manufacture things off the surface of Earth.

Image: NASA
Photos: How NASA astronauts are 3D printing in space

Ratchet wrench

Image: NASA

Ratchet wrench

This wrench was designed by Noah Paul-Gin, an engineer at Made in Space. Astronauts printed this ratchet wrench after a team on the ground sent the design up to the space station.

Image: NASA
Photos: How NASA astronauts are 3D printing in space

Printing the wrench

Image: NASA

Printing the wrench

This still of a YouTube video shows the ratchet being printed in space, using plastic.

Image: NASA
Photos: How NASA astronauts are 3D printing in space

Calibration Coupon

Image: Made in Space

Calibration Coupon

This calibration coupon (design available on Sketchfab) is used to test calibration of relationship between extruder and print plate.

Image: Made in Space
Photos: How NASA astronauts are 3D printing in space

Space Container

Image: Made in Space

Space Container

This space container “honey jar” is a two-u00adpiece, wateru00ad-tight container for astronauts to use. Astronauts on the space station successfully printed a sample using the Zero-G Printer on the space station.

Image: Made in Space
space7.jpg
space7.jpg
Photos: How NASA astronauts are 3D printing in space

Honey jar

Honey jar

An astronaut shows off the sample honey jar that was printed in space using the Zero-G printer.

Photos: How NASA astronauts are 3D printing in space

Zero-G Overhang Test

Image: Made in Space

Zero-G Overhang Test

This little part was designed to test how printing works in zero gravity.

Image: Made in Space
Photos: How NASA astronauts are 3D printing in space

The printer's path

Image: Made in Space

The printer's path

This awesome map shows where the printer traveled while on the space station. The lines show where the printer was when it was printing.

Image: Made in Space
Photos: How NASA astronauts are 3D printing in space

Students make 3D printed tools

Image: NASA

Students make 3D printed tools

Robert Hillan, a student in Alabama, recently won first place in the Future Engineers 3-D Printing in Space Tool Challenge for his Multipurpose Precision Maintenance Tool design. Here is a description Future Engineers gave: “The drives at the top allows the user to attach sockets. In the center are wrenches of varying sizes, allowing fewer wrenches to be carried to the job site. On the left is a precision measuring tool along with wire gauges and a single edged wire stripper. In the center is an outline for Velcro to be applied allowing an easy storage around the station.”

Image: NASA
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By Lyndsey Gilpin
Lyndsey Gilpin is a former Staff Writer for TechRepublic, covering sustainability and entrepreneurship. She's co-author of the book Follow the Geeks.
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