The printer, the result of a collaboration between the ESA and Airbus, was delivered to the ISS as part of a resupply mission in early 2024 and.
Why it matters: Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have successfully 3D printed the first metal part in space. The achievement is crucial for enabling long-duration space expeditions in which resupply missions are challenging or outright impossible.
The printer, the result of a collaboration between the ESA and Airbus, was delivered to the ISS as part of a resupply mission in early 2024 and was installed by astronaut Andreas Mogensen.
The first of four samples – all smaller than a soda can and weighing less than 250 grams each – was completed in August.
