They’re not big, but the impact of what some small 3D-printed experiments can bring to satellite and space station technology is huge.After a SpaceX commercial resupply mission, some were transported to the International Space Station. “Then they are going to take them and put them on the exterior of the ISS on specific facilities that we have. And then they are going to be exposed for six months in the extreme elements of space,” said Dr. Ryan Reeves, the director of Science & Technology for the ISS National Laboratory.L3Harris 3D-printed parts will be tested in harsh conditions to see if their performance can be used to build new satellites and space stations.It’s not just testing the 3D-printed material itself.“Then there are the active ones. These circuits that are going to be powered up, and they will be running periodically to make sure that performance does not change over time,” Reeves said.So those experiments test out 3D-printed material and components printed here on Earth, but there’s also ongoing work using 3D printers up in low-Earth orbit and beyond.“With the number of these companies coming online that are building their own space stations and free-flying platforms, you can imagine it’s going to become more and more important to have on-demand capabilities,” Reeves said.As the ISS will retire in eighteen years, private space stations plans are advancing.Top headlines: Orlando International Airport sets new record for busiest day in history Driver dies after crashing into building in Volusia County Tuition-free Bezos Academy opens in Orlando
They’re not big, but the impact of what some small 3D-printed experiments can bring to satellite and space station technology is huge.
Some were delivered to the International Space Station on Thursday after catching a ride up on a SpaceX commercial resupply mission.
“Then they are going to take them and put them on the exterior of the ISS on specific facilities that we have. And then they are going to be exposed for six months in the extreme elements of space,” said Dr. Ryan Reeves, the director of Science & Technology for the ISS National Laboratory.
In the harsh environment, those 3D-printed components from L3Harris will be tested to evaluate their performance to see if they are viable to be used on satellites and new space stations that will be built in the future.
It’s not just testing the 3D-printed material itself.
“Then there are the active ones. These circuits that are going to be powered up, and they will be running periodically to make sure that performance does not change over time,” Reeves said.
So those experiments test out 3D-printed material and components printed here on Earth, but there’s also ongoing work using 3D printers up in low-Earth orbit and beyond.
“With the number of these companies coming online that are building their own space stations and free-flying platforms, you can imagine it’s going to become more and more important to have on-demand capabilities,” Reeves said.
Plans for private space stations are accelerating as the ISS is due to retire in eight years.
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