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Scottish Researchers Pave the Way for Space Factories With Zero Gravity 3D Printing

Published on January 16, 2025 by Madeleine P.
Space Factories zero gravity 3d printing

3D printing in space travel has made considerable progress in recent years. Initiatives from both NASA, which is researching the use of additive manufacturing in space including for structures, and the ESA, which has tested metal 3D printing on the International Space Station, mark the significant progress that has been made. Now, researchers at the University of Glasgow in Scotland have developed a system that could solve the problems of 3D printing in zero gravity. This progress paves the way for factories in orbit that can apply technologies directly in space as required.

For several years, Dr. Gilles Bailet from the University of Glasgow has been developing a prototype 3D printer specifically designed to operate in space. Recently, his technology underwent intensive testing during several test flights on board a research aircraft nicknamed the “vomit comet” (yes that is its real name). But how does this technology work and what is its purpose? Let’s take a look!

Photo Credits: Media India Group

Space Factories: Using 3D Printing to Advance Humanity’s Ambitions

According to Dr. Bailet, successful 3D printing in low-gravity environments could enable the development of space factories capable of manufacturing complex devices directly in space. These technologies could include solar reflectors, advanced communication antennas or equipment for manufacturing more efficient medicines. Instead of using conventional filaments, the team designed a granular material specifically suited for space that allows for fast removal and delivery to the printer’s nozzle, even in microgravity.

Dr. Bailet explains, “Currently, everything that goes into Earth’s orbit is built on the surface and sent into space on rockets. They have tightly limited mass and volumes and can shake themselves to pieces during launch when mechanical constraints are breached, destroying expensive cargo in the process. If instead we could place fabricators in space to build structures on demand, we would be freed from those payload restrictions. In turn, that could pave the way to creating  much more ambitious, less resource-intensive projects, with systems actually optimized for their mission and not for the constraints of rocket launches.”

 

Dr. Bailet further explains that 3D printing can be used to produce complex materials quickly and cheaply, which would be very useful in space to produce what is needed for assembly in orbit. However, he points out that what works on Earth may be less reliable in the vacuum of space, and that 3D printing has never been done outside the International Space Station’s printing areas. In fact, the filaments of conventional printers often have problems in microgravity and vacuum, making them difficult to use. Through his research, Dr. Bailet has developed a technology that brings us closer to this possibility, with potential benefits for the entire planet in the years to come.

In November last year, the prototype demonstrated its performance in microgravity during the 85th parabolic flight campaign of the European Space Agency (ESA) in Bordeaux, France. The team completed three flights, during which more than 90 short, rollercoaster-like phases of weightlessness were passed through. In each 22-second phase, the prototype’s function was tested and confirmed to work correctly in microgravity. You can find out more in the University of Glasgow press release HERE.

What do you think of this prototype for zero gravity 3D printing? Do you think space factories could help astronauts better explore outer space? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.

*Cover Photo Credits: University of Glasgow

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