by
Mark Ollig
With
a working robot (Robonaut 2) already completing tasks onboard the International
Space Station (ISS), NASA has decided to send up another high-tech device.
You’ve
read about 3D printers in my Feb. 18 column. Soon, a 3D printer will be sent up
to the ISS.
NASA’s
“3-D Printing in Zero-G Experiment” was begun in October 2012.
This
experiment was to prove the viability of using 3D printer hardware to
“fabricate components and equipment on demand for manned missions to the space
station and other destinations in the solar system,” according to NASA’s
Marshall Space Flight Center.
Made
in Space Inc. of Moffett Field, CA, is a company which manufactures parts used
in space. This company has built and tested the new 3D space printer.
“In
the future, perhaps astronauts will be able to print the tools or components
they need while in space,” explained NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.
“Rather
than hoping that the necessary parts and tools are on the station already, what
if the parts could be 3D printed when they needed them?” suggested Aaron
Kemmer, CEO of Made in Space.
To
me, this is all starting to sound like a “Star Trek” episode, where the crew
uses the ship’s replicator to create a needed part or tool.
Testing
of the specially designed 3D printer in near-zero gravity conditions or
microgravity, was successfully completed onboard an airplane known as a
“reduced gravity aircraft.” This aircraft flies a series of parabolic flight
maneuvers which counter the forces of gravity on Earth. While in the air, each
parabolic flight can simulate temporary states of near-zero gravity for about
20 seconds.
This
3D printer uses extrusion additive manufacturing; objects are created
layer-by-layer from polymers and other materials.
A
video by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, explains how problems onboard the
ISS will be solved by using the 3D printer.
“3D
printing provides us the ability to be able to do our own Star Trek replication
right there on the spot to help us replace things we’ve lost, replace things
we’ve broken, or maybe make things we’ve thought that can be useful,” said NASA
astronaut Timothy “TJ” Creamer.
Parts
to be 3D printed include frequently used shelving accessories.
A
3D printer delivers advantages to the ISS astronauts and mission specialists;
such as not having to wait for replacement parts to be sent from Earth.
Made
in Space is responsible for designing the 3D printing hardware, and NASA is
providing insight into key design areas and into the testing for flight
certification, according to Niki Werkheiser, 3D Print project manager in the
Marshall Space Flight Center Technology Development & Transfer Office.
Programming
instructions on how a particular part is to be printed can be preloaded onto
the 3D printer itself, or uploaded from Earth.
“The
ability to not have to manifest mass and launch it to resupply ourselves is the
most important,” reasoned Creamer, in reference to the advantages of making
parts using 3D printers while in space.
Allowing
ISS crew members the capability of creating parts needed using a 3D printer
instead of having to include the parts in future cargo shipments from Earth,
will result in real cost savings. Although it is too early to know for sure the
amount of cost savings it will be significant; “it will pay for itself a
million times over,” said Werkheiser.
Not
only will NASA save time and money using a 3D printer for creating or replacing
parts and tools needed onboard the ISS, 3D printers will prove to be essential
when we begin future deep-space missions.
“The
greater the distance from Earth and the longer the mission duration, the more
difficult it is to resupply materials,” said Werkheiser.
“We
also look forward to using this technology as an educational tool offering
students the opportunity to design and build parts for missions,” she added.
When
humans eventually go to Mars, I predict a few 3D printers will be accompanying
them on the voyage.
To
boldly go where no 3D printer has gone before seems to be the latest mission
for Made in Space, as they state on their website: “The Made in Space and NASA
team envisions a future where space missions can be virtually self-sufficient
and manufacture most of what they need in space. This includes such things as
consumables, common tools, and replacements for lost or broken parts, and
eventually even such things as CubeSats (small, deployable satellites).”
NASA
has scheduled a June 2014 cargo resupply mission to the ISS. Included with this
mission’s shipment will be the new Made in Space 3D printer hardware.
It
will be packaged with other cargo onboard a SpaceX designed Falcon 9 rocket,
and stored inside the Dragon pressurized space capsule attached to the top of
the rocket.
You
can watch “3-D Printing in Zero Gravity,” the video uploaded by NASA’s Marshall
Space Flight Center, at http://tinyurl.com/Marshall3D.
The
website for Made in Space is http://www.madeinspace.us.
