UC Berkeley’s SpaceCAL 3D Printer Demonstrates Success in Orbit

A team of UC Berkeley researchers, spearheaded by Ph.D. student Taylor Waddell, has achieved a significant milestone in additive manufacturing with the development of the SpaceCAL 3D printer. Launched into suborbital space aboard the VSS Unity on June 8th as part of the Virgin Galactic 07 mission, this technology is expected to revolutionize how astronauts address fabrication and repair needs during extended space missions.

According to the research team, SpaceCAL, short for Space-Computed Axial Lithography, represents a cutting-edge advancement in 3D printing. This technology, developed by Hayden Taylor and his team at UC Berkeley in collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, employs light to create solid objects from a viscous liquid. The result is a faster and more versatile printing process compared to traditional methods.

The SpaceCAL Microgravity 3D printer. (Photo Credits: Virgin Galactic)

During its brief yet impactful 140-second journey in suborbital space, SpaceCAL autonomously produced and post-processed four test objects using a liquid plastic called PEGDA, showcasing its ability to operate effectively in microgravity—a critical factor for future space exploration endeavors.