NASA is now working on methods to bind or mold raw building materials out of regolith. The process would involve special mobile machines that work much like a 3D printer, only they extrude materials made from mixing soil and a binder to “print” bricks, or even walls and other structures, to make houses for astronauts and equipment on another planet. These machines could be controlled remotely from Earth or from space, so the shelters could be set up well in advance of a human setting foot on the surface.
Now an important first step to realizing that dream has been achieved, as Nasa has made the first 3D-printed object in space.
The device was created by California-based company Made in Space, who were contracted by Nasa to design it for the ISS.
Called the 3D Printing in Zero-G Technology Demonstration, it aims to show the 'additive manufacturing' technique can make 3D printed parts and tools in space.
The first object that has now been printed was a faceplate engraved with the names of Nasa and Made in Space written on it.
The printer was installed on the station by astronaut Butch Wilmore, in the station's Microgravity Science Glovebox, which is used for conducting science and technology experiments.
The printer used plastic to form the first of a series of calibration coupons.
It works by heating a relatively low-temperature plastic filament to build parts layer by later in designs supplied to the machine.
Nasa will study the objects to see how zero-gravity conditions affect the printing process, although from these early tests there seems to be few inhibitions, if any.
Additive manufacturing with 3-D printers will allow space crews to be less reliant on supply missions from Earth and lead to sustainable, self-reliant exploration missions where resupply is difficult and costly.
The space station provides the optimal place to perfect this technology in microgravity.
