NASA's First Step Towards a Replicator: 3D Printing in Space

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Science fiction coming true with 3D printing in space.

Tea, Earl Grey, hot. Those are the words spoken by Capt. Picard to the computer when he wants his favorite beverage replicated. While we're still a long ways away from that becoming reality, we're taking steps toward it.

NASA will be taking that step when it takes a 3D printer up to the International Space Station in June 2014.

MORE: How 3D Printing Will Save You Money

NASA astronaut Timothy "TJ" Creamer made the science fiction reference, saying, "3D printing provides us with the ability to do our own Star Trek right there on the spot."

This will prove hugely valuable for the ISS so that replacement parts can be fabricated there without having to rely on spares, backup systems, or a shipment from Earth.  Spare part blueprints can be preloaded on the printer, or can even be uploaded from ground support.

Not just any 3D printer can be used in space, as the one destined for the ISS – designed by a company called Made in Space – had to be tested on zero-G parabolic flights in order to verify that it would work in microgravity.

It's interesting to note that NASA isn't just working on 3D printed plastic parts, as it's invested in pizza replication technology.

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Marcus Yam

Marcus Yam is a technology evangelist for Intel Corporation, the latest in a long line of tech-focused roles spanning a more than 20-year career in the industry. As Executive Editor, News on Tom's Guide and Tom's Hardware, Marcus was responsible for shaping the sites' news output, and he also spent a period as Editor of Outdoors & Sports at Digital Trends.

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10 Comments Comment from the forums
  • chicofehr
    I'm single and can't cook so the pizza maker is what I am interested in installing in my home in the future. Who needs to cook anymore? Restaurants and cooks wont like it though.
    Reply
  • BranFlake5
    They talk about not launching with extra mass, but won't launching with the printer/Plastic add mass?
    Reply
  • w8gaming
    If a part breaks down and it has no spare on the ISS, the equipment that requires the part cannot be operated until spare part arrive with the next launch. That can cause efficiency issue or even life threatening in some case. Emergency launch add costs. Workaround is to ensure there are enough spare parts on the ISS in case of emergency, but then that mean many parts need to be launched and delivered to ISS as long as they are in different shape. With a 3D printer, in theory ISS will not need to stockpile the spare part, just need to stock some materials and print it as needed. That is how it will reduce launch mass in the long run.
    Reply
  • Azn Cracker
    ^they also have to launch the rockets into space, which is the extra mass. They can save a lot of money by not having to launch another rocket up there.
    Reply
  • CaedenV
    @branflake5
    Agreed, it would seem that this would be a terrible thing for normal trips with the shuttle. However, for something like the ISS or other long term missions this could be a great thing. Rather than bringing a bunch of spare parts with you, you could bring that same weight in plastics and have it be used for any number of things that you need rather than a predetermined amount of replacements that you may or may not need. That can be extremely useful.

    The obvious issue is that anything critical needs to be on-hand which means that they need to pre-print a few things before they are needed, or they just need to bring a starter set of parts to begin with.
    Reply
  • tmshdw
    I think the real thing to look forward to is when they can increase the printing size capability and start to "print" large parts to make entire
    Reply
  • tmshdw
    I think the real thing to look forward to is when they can increase the printing size capability and start to "print" large parts to make entire space station sections or for craft that can leave orbit.
    Reply
  • deksman
    How difficult is it for a single person to look up ways for cooking food?
    I'm single, and I learned this on my own as a kid through simple observation of adults.
    Sheesh... with the access people have to the Internet, you have a wealth of information at your fingertips to help you in this process.

    As for 3d printing food - good idea actually, but only if the synthetic food in question is designed to be actually HEALTHY for the body and can even augment natural functions (such as boost production of youthful stem-cells and enhance the immune system).
    We certainly have the technology and knowledge to do so, but the problem is, given the system we live in, they will probably just make it to be as 'cheap as possible' (monetarily speaking) and end up producing things of questionable quality that are no better, if not worse than GMO foods filled with pesticides and chemicals, which after a prolonged period of time likely produce a cumulative effect in the body and end up causing problems just so you would go to the doctor and be treated.

    But, I digress, perhaps it will be different. Only time will tell.
    Reply
  • w8gaming
    The idea of food printing is to directly create edible food from nuitrients (which is possibly man made as well instead of extract from actual food), so that it can completely bypass the processing of farming or raising live stock. A lot of time is then saved, and there is no need for extra materials or logistics for fertilizer, feeds etc etc. Sort of like a Star Trek food replicator. Will we get there in the near future? Probably doubtful anyway unless we are talking about cream like food, or cream like food being fried or dried.
    Reply
  • eodeo
    star trek 4tw.
    Reply