With the project to explore the Moon and also the planet Mars expected to start within a few years, NASA in collaboration with several parties has started the process to develop a metal 3D printer that can be used to print structural components that can be used in space.
Airbus will develop two of these 3D printers for research purposes first. The first printer will be used on earth by the European Space Agency (ESA) which also funded the development of this printer and researchers at the Danish Technical University, and the second will be brought to the International Space Station via the Cygnus NG-20 resupply mission soon. .
The 3D printer on the space station will print four samples on the space station, where each sample will take 40 hours to print. These samples will then be sent to ESA and the Danish Technical University to be tested for integrity and whether they are safe to use as building structures.
The installation of a metal 3D printer on the International Space Station will shorten the delivery time of built structures to locations on the moon and even Mars, in addition to reducing fuel costs if successful.
According to a statement issued by Airbus, this printer module will be loaded inside Columbus, which is a European laboratory that is part of the International Space Station.