NASA’s attempt to solve the problem of sipping coffee in a weightless environment may be solved with the development of a specialized cup.
space
NASA 3D Prints Copper Rocket Part
US space agency NASA has 3D printed a full-scale rocket engine part in copper.
3D Printed Component To Blast Off On The Atlas V
As 3D printing technology continues to improve, more industries and companies are analyzing how they can incorporate it into their existing production processes.
Space 3D Prints Returned To Earth Inspected By NASA
Remember the 3D printer sent to the International Space Station? The first prints from it have been examined by NASA.
The First 3D Printed Satellite?
A project with the unlikely name of “PrintTheBus” hopes to develop a 3D printed spacecraft platform capable of traveling to the moon.
Orbiting 3D Printer Completes First Tests
The prototype 3D printer that’s been installed on the International Space Station has just completed its first round of tests.
Design of the Week: New Horizons
This week’s selection is NASA’s 3D model of their New Horizons spacecraft.
Engineers to Fine-Tune ‘Cold Spray’ a Next-Gen 3D-Printing Technology for Astronauts
Engineers from Trinity College Dublin are leading a four-year, €500,000 European Space Agency (ESA) project to fine-tune ‘Cold Spray,’ (CS) – a revolutionary, environmentally friendly technology that deposits materials onto engineering components.
The Greatest 3D Print Challenge
GrabCAD and NASA announced what could be the grandest 3D printing challenge ever: win and your design goes into space!
Aerojet Rocketdyne Demos 3D Printed Satellite Propulsion System
Aerojet Rocketdyne, has successfully completed a hot-fire test of its MPS-120 CubeSat High-Impulse Adaptable Modular Propulsion System™ (CHAMPS™).
Orbital 3D Printing Really Works!
We’ve written previously of NASA’s incredible 3D printing experiment taking place on the International Space Station. Now we’ve seen a real example of how the technology should work.
China Also Has a Space 3D Printer! Or Do They?
We’ve reported on NASA’s currently on-orbit 3D printer and also ESA’s project to develop their own. Now we see China has one, too.
Europe has a Space 3D Printer, Too
With all the buzz surrounding NASA’s experimental 3D printer, currently on the International Space Station, you may not have heard that the Europeans also have a space 3D printer.
Challenges Coming for 3D Printing In Space
NASA has launched an experimental 3D printer into orbit, but what challenges lay ahead? We believe there could be significant challenges to overcome.
Space 3D Printer Is Installed
A few short weeks ago a SpaceX cargo craft carried a unique experiment: A 3D printer designed for space. Now it’s being installed.
3D Printing the Next Spacesuit
NASA has been using 3D printing to develop a future spacesuit that just might be walking on Mars someday.
Finally: A 3D Printer In Space
Made In Space, a company dedicated to the idea of taking 3D printing off the surface of the earth, finally sent their gear aloft.
NASA Takes Another 3D Printed Step
We’ve written previously of NASA’s experiments with 3D printed rocket components. It seems they’ve taken another key step forward with 3D printing.
NASA Releases Many Printable 3D Models
The US space agency NASA has released two dozen printable 3D models of spacecraft and alien worlds.
Made In Space Soon Will Be
This August you’ll see a real 3D printer operating in outer space. The folks at Made In Space announced their space-capable 3D printer will fly on the SpaceX Dragon CRS-4 flight this summer.
More Details on SpaceX’s 3D Printed Rocket Engine
We’ve found some additional details on SpaceX’s surprising 3D printed SuperDraco rocket engine.
SpaceX Takes a Huge Step with 3D Printing
If you are like us, you would have been watching SpaceX unveil their astonishing new spacecraft, the Dragon V2.
NASA Research Aims to Print Wood in Space
In a completely new twist for the world of 3D printing, two researchers are working to create a new bioprinting methodology that would see clumps of cells spawn custom engineered, non-living biomaterials.
NASA’s 3D Printed Instruments
NASA is experimenting with 3D printing techniques to develop not one, but at least three different solutions to space instrument manufacturing issues.
D-Shape Prototypes 3D Printed Lunar Bricks
D-Shape, makers of a massive 3D printing solution capable of printing large, building-sized structures, has apparently been working with the European Space Agency on lunar building experiment. The idea is to use on site materials (lunar regolith, which is simply a mix of sand, dust and other particles) as the 3D print materials. In… Continue reading D-Shape Prototypes 3D Printed Lunar Bricks
3D Printing the One Hundred Year Starship
Not too long ago DARPA and NASA began hosting symposiums to discuss the possibility of interstellar travel. The brightest minds in the fields of technology, science, philosophy, sociology and economics all gathered to determine what it would take to build a 100 Year Starship. While some proposed massive spaceships reminiscent of the Starship Enterprise,… Continue reading 3D Printing the One Hundred Year Starship
SpiderFab Weaves Massive Space Structures
Tethers Unlimited hopes to enable inexpensive construction of truly massive structures in outer space by leveraging 3D printing and robotics. The company is developing a “Trusselator” as a first step under a NASA experimental contract that will be able to build large trusses in a weightless environment. The machine spins out a completed… Continue reading SpiderFab Weaves Massive Space Structures
How Big is the Space 3D Printing Market?
At the moment there are no 3D printers in space, so you’d think there’s no market for such things. We disagree. It’s possible that one of the biggest future markets for 3D printers will be beyond mother Earth, in space where the future will be built. By 3D printers. The single, most important… Continue reading How Big is the Space 3D Printing Market?
NASA’s 3D Microdispenser
NASA often provides small amounts of funding to check out some pretty unusual ideas. One of the projects they’re currently funding is the feasibility of an advanced biocomposite microdispening system. Wait, what the heck is that? We told you this was an unusual idea! The proposition is to use micro-components already available in the… Continue reading NASA’s 3D Microdispenser
3D Printed Rocket Parts Fired
You may recall our post on NASA’s plan to use 3D printed parts to replace conventionally-made parts in future rocket engines? It’s much further along than you’d think – the video below shows an actual test firing of a prototype rocket using a 3D printed liner. This, as far as we can tell, is the… Continue reading 3D Printed Rocket Parts Fired
Your Rocket Is Now 3D Printed
Aerojet Rocketdyne has been working with NASA to develop a way to 3D print rockets. Well, not the WHOLE rocket, but certain critical parts, namely an Injector Assembly. They’re working on a completely integrated manufacturing process with Selective Laser Melting technology that will be capable of rapidly producing “highly critical rocket engine components”. We… Continue reading Your Rocket Is Now 3D Printed
Cubify’s Next Generation
You might recall Cubify’s 3DMe app that puts your head on a custom 3D printed Star Trek figurine? The next generation of the app now includes Star Trek: The Next Generation models. You can now select ST:TNG uniforms in either blue, gold or red. (We would strongly advise not selecting red, because, you know…)… Continue reading Cubify’s Next Generation
3D Systems Joins Planetary Resources
You may recall the announcement of Planetary Resources? They’re the futuristic company that intends on developing technology to capture asteroids and refine them for their mineral wealth. The company is backed by several notable entrepreneurs and explorers, including X-Prize founder Peter Diamandis and filmmaker James Cameron. Now they’ve added another major investor: 3D Systems. … Continue reading 3D Systems Joins Planetary Resources
Made In Space To Really Go To Space
They made the 3D printer, now they send it into space. Made In Space, the startup who have designed a compact 3D printer suitable for use in the weightless environment in space, now have a flight date for their machine. In August 2014 their 3D printer will be carried aloft to the International Space Station… Continue reading Made In Space To Really Go To Space
3D Printing The Enterprise
There’s more 3D printed Star Trek with a view of this video by PC Magazine, who took on the task of 3D printing the Starship Enterprise on their 3D Systems Cube personal 3D printer. It’s a time lapse video, obviously, as 3D printers simply are not fast. This shows one of the main challenges… Continue reading 3D Printing The Enterprise
Now You Can Go Where No One Has Gone Before
Cubify launched a new dynamic 3D model service specifically for Trekkies: Personalized 3D Printed Star Trek Figurines. If you never had a chance to appear on the show (and who could have?) you now can put yourself in a Star Fleet uniform. The USD$69.99 offer requires a bit of input from you, as do… Continue reading Now You Can Go Where No One Has Gone Before
NASA Developing a 3D Food Printer
According to a report in New Scientist, NASA is funding research that could lead to 3D printed food technology. Texas-based Anjan Contractor of Systems and Materials Research Corporation obtained funding from NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research Program to develop a “fully functional” 3D food printer. The goal of this program is to creat te… Continue reading NASA Developing a 3D Food Printer
NASA’s SpaceShop
No, we’re not referring to the identically-named giftshop at Kennedy Space Centre where you can buy all the freeze-dried ice cream you’d care to eat; we are instead referring to NASA’s Advanced Digital Materials and Manufacturing for Space initiative at their Ames Research Center. It’s basically a FabLab for NASA makers. The SpaceShop includes… Continue reading NASA’s SpaceShop
SinterHab: A 3D Printed Lunar Module
A new proposal for 3D printing lunar habitats has been unveiled by Tomas Rousek, Katarina Eriksson and Dr. Ondrej Doule of the International Space University, and this one looks like it just might work. Previous proposals involved shipping 3D supplies from Mother Earth, but that obviously requires more energy and expense. The SinterHab proposal… Continue reading SinterHab: A 3D Printed Lunar Module
NASA Gets Serious About 3D Printing
A post on Mashable describes the goings-on at NASA where they’re deeply investigating the possibility of using 3D printing technology on future space missions. As we’ve said before, 3D printing in space could be massively beneficial, as you’d need only bring the printer and some print media with you into space, where you’d simply… Continue reading NASA Gets Serious About 3D Printing
3D Printer Starves Astronauts
A science-fictiony proposal in Wired suggests future astro-colonists could feast on dishes prepared by 3D food printers. The concept seems like a good one; current astronauts are subjected to freeze-dried packets of former food, brought back from the dead by injection of lubricating water. While astros put on a brave face when describing their… Continue reading 3D Printer Starves Astronauts
New Space-Based 3D Printer
You might not realize it, but there are actually two companies pursuing asteroid mining today. One is Planetary Resources, backed by notables such as James Cameron, Larry Page, Eric Schmidt and more. The other company is Deep Space Industries. And they’re making a space-based 3D printer. Their purpose is to seek out asteroids… Continue reading New Space-Based 3D Printer
Lunar 3D Printing? Check!
Researchers from several US institutions including NASA recently published a paper describing their experiment in “Lunar 3D Printing”. No, they weren’t actually ON the Moon. Instead they produced synthetic lunar soil (called “Regolith” by scientists) and attempted to use it as material in a 3D printing process. The process used was “LENS”, or Laser… Continue reading Lunar 3D Printing? Check!
LulzBot Sponsors Mars Expedition
We’re not sure what to make of this. Evidently Aleph Objects, Inc., the producers of the LulzBot personal 3D printer have announced their sponsorship of the Mars One initiative. Ok, wait. What’s Mars One? It’s a Dutch-based project with the intention of sending a human expedition to the Planet Mars in 2023. No, really.… Continue reading LulzBot Sponsors Mars Expedition
NASA’s Space Launch System is 3D Printed
Yes, the venerable Space Shuttle is now retired and host to gawking tourists across the United States, but that doesn’t mean NASA is sitting idle. In fact they’ve embarked on the development of a massive new rocket to take on the task of heavy lifting to outer space: The Space Launch System or “SLS”. … Continue reading NASA’s Space Launch System is 3D Printed
Rocket Moonlighting Used DMLS to Build Homemade Rockets
Anyone even a little bit interested in rocketry, space travel or just cool engineering should head over to Rocket Moonlighting for a peek into one of the most interesting DIY projects I’ve seen in a while… building homemade rockets! Read More at Engineering.com
Lunar 3D Printing
NASA’s goal is to develop revolutionary technologies to assist in space exploration and they often start the process with funded studies of promising ideas. If these work out, they are developed further, ultimately becoming a reality if they are feasible and beneficial. One very interesting study in their “Early Stage Innovation” program is entitled,… Continue reading Lunar 3D Printing
Design of the Week: For All Mankind
There is but one choice for this week’s Design of the Week: For All Mankind, by Thingiverse maker Doug Keenan. We selected this design in honor of the passing of Astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to step onto another world. The model depicts an Apollo astronaut taking that giant step off the Lunar… Continue reading Design of the Week: For All Mankind
NASA Testing 3D Printers For Space Use
NASA is taking their Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication (EBF3) technology to the next level, according to a report in The Daily Mail. EBF3 is a type of 3D printing that uses a high-power electron beam to instantaneously melt metallic wire. The fluid metal is then positioned incrementally to build up arbitrary solid metal objects.… Continue reading NASA Testing 3D Printers For Space Use
3D Printing a Pulsar
A pulsar is a very strange astronomical object that is the result of a collapsing star. The conservation of angular momentum means the small collapsed star spins very rapidly, causing it to “pulse” its radio signals on a very reliable frequency, hence the name “Pulsar”. Peter Walters and Katie Davies of England’s University of… Continue reading 3D Printing a Pulsar
Generated Spaceships
Once you have a 3D printer, the eternal question is, “what should I print?” One can tediously look through online repositories for something interesting, or perhaps tediously design something new with your 3D modelling software if you have the skills, ability and time. But what if you could generate your own model? And specifically… Continue reading Generated Spaceships
Made In Space: Update
Last week we mentioned Made In Space’s achievement of testing two commercial 3D printers in a simulated weightless environment. But we wondered which 3D printers were used, as the material we saw did not specify the printer involved – only that one of the printers originated from 3D Systems. Today we see a press… Continue reading Made In Space: Update
Space-Based 3D Printers Pass Important Test
Space.com reports this morning on experiments undertaken by Made In Space to verify whether 3D printers can be used in orbit. Evidently two commercial 3D printers were tested during temporary zero-gravity environment simulation fights. We’ve written about Made In Space before, as they were formed last year to address the problem of efficiently solving… Continue reading Space-Based 3D Printers Pass Important Test
3D Printed CubeSat
You may have seen a freight train pass by hauling endless standard-sized shipping containers. Those containers make freight economical because the entire transportation system can safely assume their characteristics and adapt appropriately. There’s a similar standard for space satellites: CubeSat. It’s a one-liter 10 x 10 x 10 cm cube that can weigh no… Continue reading 3D Printed CubeSat
Printing Rockets
You may be under the impression that 3D printers produce flimsy models, suitable for show – but not for action. This is generally true, but it’s changing as 3D printing ventures into metal or concrete printing. One project we’re watching is taking place at ZCorp, manufacturers of high-end commercial 3D printers. Mark Cook, ZCorp’s VP… Continue reading Printing Rockets
Lunar Spin-Offs for 3D Printing?
We’ve been reading a discussion on OpenManufacturing about the discovery of various elements on the lunar surface by NASA’s LCROSS project. LCROSS was a pretty daring expedition to determine if water is present in ice form within permanently shaded polar craters: Place a spacecraft into Lunar orbit Separate into two spacecraft, orbiting on similar… Continue reading Lunar Spin-Offs for 3D Printing?
3D Printing Made In Space
We wrote about NASA’s interest in 3D space printing here and here, but now there is interest from an independent space printing company: Made In Space, recently founded by students from The Singularity University. At last week’s SSI Space Manufacturing Conference, several folks from Made in Space presented “3D Metal Printing in Space: Enabling… Continue reading 3D Printing Made In Space
Sintering the Moon
We just finished reading a paper describing the viability of using microwaves to fuse lunar soil (regoilith) into solid shapes, in the hopes of creating an effective way of building lunar structures for future astronauts and their bases. The chemistry and process are fascinating. It seems that most of the lunar regolith was formed… Continue reading Sintering the Moon
Printing the Moon
We saw a few posts recently proposing to use the D-Shape outdoor printer to be modified for printing a lunar base. That’s an enticing and challenging possibility, but why not print the Moon on Earth while we await real lunar exploration? That’s exactly what space enthusiast Howard Fink did, as you can see in the… Continue reading Printing the Moon
The EBF3 Business Case
We wrote a few weeks ago about NASA’s new EBF3 manufacturing process (Electron Beam FreeForm Fabrication), which uses a high-energy electron beam to melt raw metal (typically aluminum) and deposit it on a vacuum-encased rotating platform. Shiny round metal objects soon emerge. Now we learn a bit more about the benefits of EBF3, which originally… Continue reading The EBF3 Business Case
EBF3: Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication
Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication is yet another approach for 3D printing, this time developed by the rocket scientists at NASA. They have good reasons for developing EBF3: to save weight on cargo flights to the International Space Station. You can imagine the hefty pile of spare parts that must be carried up yonder and stored… Continue reading EBF3: Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication