The European Space Agency (ESA) has unveiled the first 3D metal part printed on the International Space Station (ISS).
3D Printed Desk Art – Liquid Coffee Cup
3D printing aboard the ISS is nothing new – a device capable of producing plastic parts in microgravity was launched to the space station ten years ago, but plastic only goes so far. But printing metal parts has many more applications and expands the range of spare parts and tools that can be manufactured in orbit.
The printer and the raw materials needed for the test were launched to the ISS earlier this year. ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen installed the hardware in the European Drawer Rack Mark II in ESA's Columbus module.
Astronaut holds 3D printed metal in space (Credit: ESA/NASA)
