NASA Is Looking to Advance the Use of Metal 3D Printing for Spaceflight

It is common knowledge that additive manufacturing is extremely useful right here on Earth, but what about in outer space? For some time now, 3D printing has been considered to be one of the leading technologies for applications related to space exploration. And that has been reconfirmed recently. NASA has announced that out of its two new Space Technology Research Institutes (STRIs), one will be dedicated entirely to the understanding and rapid certification of metal parts made using additive manufacturing technologies.

NASA is certainly no stranger to the use of 3D printing technologies. The agency has been a long-time adopter of AM, testing its capabilities for a variety of applications including the creation of rocket parts, 3D printed foods on the ISS and even the possibility of construction on extraterrestrial bodies. But this announcement shows even more clearly its commitment to the integration of new and innovative technologies like 3D printing as a way to advance its long-term exploration goals. Each institute will be led by teams at U.S. universities to create “multidisciplinary research and technology development programs critical to NASA’s future.” For this work, they will each receive up to $15 million over five years.

One of the STRIs will be dedicated to understanding and certifying metal 3D printed parts for spaceflight (photo credits: NASA)

Jim Reuter, associate administrator for the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, further explained, “We’re thrilled to draw on the expertise of these multi-university teams to create technology for some of our most pressing needs. Their work will enable next-generation science for studying our home planet and broaden the use of 3D-printed metal parts for spaceflight with state-of-the-art modeling.”