The International Space Station is full of spare parts, components that can be pulled in quickly to replace any faulty or broken ones.
NASA's Tracie Prater wants astronauts to not have to bring up so much clutter, and to print out the tools that they need.
In this episode of our podcast series Here's an Idea, you'll learn about everything NASA is trying build "on demand," from plastic ratchets and sophisticated sensors to entire lunar habitats and personal back scratchers.
Prater, a materials engineer at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, tells us about NASA's efforts to bring 3D printing to space.
Also: Learn how this process of additive manufacturing will play an especially intriguing role in long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, where going back for spare parts is not an option.
In our conversation, Prater reveals the kinds of unexpected materials that can be fed into a 3D printer, from leftover plastic packaging to the lunar soil.
Listen to the episode.
- (3:49) What kinds of parts are best suited for 3D printing?
- (5:30) What has been the reaction from astronauts who are using these 3D printed parts?
- (8:15) What role will 3D printing play in long-duration Moon missions?
- (10:14) How do know that a 3D-printed part is a “good,” certified part?
- (15:35) What is the coolest thing you've seen 3D-printed?
- (22:39) How did you first get involved with 3D printing?
- (28:38) What is most exciting to you about 3D printing and the role it might play in space exploration?
More Resources: NASA and 3D Printing
- Astronaut Butch Wilmore and His 3D Printer
Given the dry air on the ISS, one of the first objects that astronaut Butch Wilmore wanted to print was a back scratcher. Though he never received the plastic itch-reliever until he got back down to Earth, NASA teams were able to uplink design files that allowed the ISS crew to 3D-print ratchets, structural clips, and sample containers.
- A Home on Mars, 3D-Printed
What's the coolest thing Tracie has seen 3D-printed? Entire habitats, it turns out. As part of NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, teams competed to create sustainable shelters for deep space exploration, including the agency’s journey to Mars.
In the video below, see the winner of NASA’s 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge.
NASA's Artemis program will astronauts to the Moon and prepare crew for human exploration of Mars. Experts from NASA, industry, and academia are looking to 3D-printing to build the rocket parts that could power the Artemis trips.
Complex designs – such as engine nozzles with integrated channels walls – can be fabricated using a metal additive-manufacturing technique called blown powder directed energy deposition.
These initiatives mentioned above are only a few of the examples of NASA's additive manufacturing efforts.
Learn more about NASA's 3D-printing efforts by reading our 2020 feature: 3D Printing and Space Exploration: How NASA Will Use Additive Manufacturing.
What do you think? Share your questions and comments below.
Kituo cha Angani cha Kimataifa kina vifaa vingi vya ziada vinavyoweza kutumiwa kuondoa vitu vilivyovunjika. NASA imeamua kuwa astronaut hawapaswi kuingiza vitu vingi vya kawaida, na hivyo kuichapisha vifaa vyao. Katika kipindi hiki cha mfululizo wetu wa podcast Hapa ni Wazo, utajifunza juu ya kila kitu NASA inajaribu kujenga "kwa mahitaji," kutoka kwa ratchets za plastiki na sensorer za kisasa hadi makazi ya mwezi na scratchers za kibinafsi za nyuma. Prater, mhandisi wa vifaa katika Kituo cha Ndege cha Anga cha Marshall cha NASA huko Alabama, anatuambia juu ya juhudi za NASA za kuleta uchapishaji wa 3D angani. Pia, kujifunza jinsi mchakato huu wa utengenezaji wa nyongeza utacheza jukumu la kuvutia katika misheni ya muda mrefu kwa Mwezi na Mars, ambapo kurudi kwa sehemu za ziada si chaguo. Prater anaelezea aina ya vifaa ambavyo vinaweza kuingizwa kwenye printa ya 3D, kutoka kwa vifurushi vya plastiki hadi udongo wa mwezi. Sikiliza sehemu hiyo. Ni aina gani ya vifaa vinavyofaa kwa uchapishaji wa 3D? "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""Mafunzo ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D ya 3D.""" 3D Printing itafanya kazi gani katika safari za muda mrefu za mwezi? "Kama unavyojua, ""3D"" ni sehemu ya 3D iliyochapishwa na kuchapishwa na 3D, na ""3D"" ni sehemu ya 3D iliyochapishwa na kuchapishwa na 3D." "Kama unavyojua, ""Kitu kizuri zaidi ambacho umewahi kuona katika 3D kuchapishwa ni nini?""" "Kama unavyojua, ""Mimi"" ni moja ya watu wa kwanza ambao wamejiunga na uchapishaji wa 3D." "Kama unavyoona, ni nini kinachokuvutia zaidi kuhusu uchapishaji wa 3D na jukumu ambalo linaweza kucheza katika uchunguzi wa anga?""" NASA na 3D Printing - Butch Wilmore na 3D Printer yake - NASA na 3D Printing - Butch Wilmore na 3D Printer yake ni moja ya vifaa vya kwanza vya kuchapisha kwenye ISS. Ingawa hakupata dawa ya plastiki ya kupunguza kukwaruza hadi aliporudi duniani, timu za NASA ziliweza kuunganisha faili za muundo ambazo ziliruhusu wafanyakazi wa ISS kuchapisha 3D ratchets, vifungo vya muundo, na vyombo vya sampuli. "Kama ""Mwanamke wa Mars"" 3D-Printed, ni nini zaidi ya ajabu Tracey ameona 3D-printed?" Inageuka kuwa makao yote. Katika kipindi cha NASA 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, NASA imepanga kujenga makazi ya kudumu kwa ajili ya uchunguzi wa anga za mbali, ikiwa ni pamoja na safari ya shirika hilo kwenda Mars. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, NASA imeweka ""Mfano wa 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge"" kwenye tovuti yake." Programu ya Artemis ya NASA itawapeleka wanaanga kwenye Mwezi na kuandaa wafanyakazi kwa ajili ya uchunguzi wa binadamu wa Mihiri. Wataalamu kutoka NASA, viwanda, na vyuo vikuu wanaangalia kuchapisha kwa 3D kujenga sehemu za roketi ambazo zinaweza kuendesha safari za Artemis. Miundo tata <unk> kama vile nozzles injini na integrated njia kuta <unk> inaweza kuwa fabricated kutumia chuma nyongeza-utengenezaji mbinu aitwaye blown poda iliyoelekezwa nishati depositions. Majaribio haya ya juu ni baadhi tu ya mifano ya juhudi za NASA za utengenezaji wa nyongeza. "Kama unavyojua, NASA ina mpango wa kuchapisha 3D kwa ajili ya utafiti wa anga, na ""Uchapishaji wa 3D na Uchunguzi wa Anga: Jinsi NASA itatumia Utayarishaji wa Kuongeza.""" Unafikiri ni nini? Shiriki maswali na maoni yako hapa chini.