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Nasa Shoots for Zero-Gravity Electronics Factory
Last week, NASA began testing a new 3D printer in space meant for printing electronic circuits. The testing is in preparation for the return to the moon known as project Artemis which will bring back manned missions and a manned surface base. Space Foundry, the 3D printing of electronics is led by teams from San Jose, a California-based Space Foundry, and Iowa State University in Ames. The cooperation is in conjunction with NASA’s Flight Opportunities and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs which aid in progressing technology in the space domain.
As the Artemis program is underway, the self-sufficiency of explorers becomes even more critical due to the difficulties of bringing help from ground control. In a regular re-supply mission, NASA can send up cargo rockets in the single-tons, this will increase in the future but the moon mission will increase the time & distance for help. The international space station orbits at 408 kilometers and the moon is 384,400 kilometers away, on top of the distance, re-supply missions to the moon base will require landing. With the extra complexities of the mission, it becomes even more important for future explorers to have their own means of production. Back in 2014, the ISS received its first zero-gravity capable printer to the ISS, a Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) printer using thermoplastics.
