Picture this.
You're living aboard
the International Space Station
and need a special tool.
The only problem is your next supply
vehicle won't deliver this tool
for a couple of months.
What do you do?
Stick with me
for a few minutes to find out.
Hi, I'm Sonny Williams.
And today we're talking about 3D
printing in space. Let's jump right in.
Keeping a large quantity
of every possible item we may need aboard
the station is challenging.
Space is limited here,
and launching
cargo is expensive,
costing thousands of dollars
per kilogram.
This is a challenge that will continue
with NASA
as it expands its presence
beyond low earth orbit.
To help solve this issue.
NASA's experimenting
with additive manufacturing
or 3D printing aboard
the International Space Station.
This manufacturing technique uses
a supply of one material
to gradually build an item
by slowly laying down thin layers
on top of each other
to build a three dimensional shape.
This allows us to keep a single supply
of material on the station
that can be used to create
a variety of tools, parts
or other items we might need.
Long strings
of raw material
called filament
are fed into a heating element
where it's melted
and constantly fed through a small nozzle
called an extruder,
while it moves around,
drawing the shape of an item
being printed.
After a layer is completed,
the extruder lifts slightly
and prints
the next layer directly
on top of the previous layer
until the product is complete.
The design for each part is created down
on earth using 3D design software.
The designs are sent to us here
on station as electronic files to program
the exact movement of the extruder
to make precise shapes.
Our 3D printer uses clay plastic
or polylactic acid,
which is infused with copper oxide,
which has anti-microbial properties
to help keep our station
environment safe.
Here in the microgravity
environment of space, warm
air does not rise through convection
like it does on Earth.
The heat
generated from the printer
would cause a pocket of warm air
which could continue
to get hotter and hotter
if we didn't circulate the air.
With fans,
the fans also help to dissipate
noxious fumes
that could concentrate
around the printer, if not blown away.
Some items
we print are sent back to Earth
to be inspected
for strength,
layer adhesion and print quality.
This will guide improvements
for future generations of 3D
printers used in space.
Nessa is also looking into using
3D printers on a much bigger scale.
Studies and experiments
are being performed
to create 3D printed habitats
that can be used in the future
on the surface of the Moon or Mars.
The goal is to use resources
such as rocks, soil, water
already found at these locations
to make a type of concrete
that can be used to print
entire structures
for long term habitation.
The Crew Health and Performance
Exploration Analog
is a series of missions
which participants are secluded
for an entire year
in a 3D
printed habitat known as Mars Dune Alpha.
These analog astronauts
perform science experiments
in simulated spacewalks
to help test the suitability
of such structures for
long term habitation.
I am so glad you can
join me
to learn about 3D printing in space
and how it helps making space exploration
more sustainable.
Can you think of any more ideas
of how to use 3D printing in space?
How about some challenges
the environment of space
may pose on 3D printing.
Discuss these ideas with your classmates
before doing the activity.
We hope you'll join us again
for our next demonstration. See you soon.