SpaceIL using 3D printing to win $30M prize by landing on Moon

In what promises to be a momentous achievement, an Israeli startup is attempting to use 3D printing to land on the Moon. The startup, SpaceIL, plan to land a vehicle on the moon, including many 3D printing parts.

Why?

Google have a $30M prize for anybody who can land a spacecraft on the Moon by March 2018. This is a significant amount of money, and 5 teams including SpaceIL are trying to be first. SpaceIL incorporated 3D printing by using it to create the legs of its lander. This is because one of their suppliers, RUAG Space, insisted despite SpaceIL’s initial scepticism according to RUAG executive Franck Mouriaux.

Mouriaux expanded further, stating “We need to convince people that this technology is real.” This rings true for many fans of the tech. Many do not consider 3D printing to offer the same benefits of traditional manufacturing as the process is still new. This reluctance to try it is therefore hurting its adoption. However, it is not all bad. The 3D printing market is expected to increase fourfold to $26bn by 2023 and has barely dented the manufacturing market.