There have been many big announcements and firsts when it comes to 3D printing items for space, and in space. The small but mighty TruClip was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) last June; you can now have your laugh 3D printed in space; and the Russian space agency Roscosmos is developing an experiment that would allow astronauts to 3D printed living tissue aboard the ISS. Speaking of Russia, in March we told you about their 3D printed CubeSat nanosatellite being sent up to the ISS. The small, fully-functional Tomsk-TPU-120 satellite is the first of its kind, and was created by scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University in Siberia. It is now on track to be placed into orbit in July of 2017.
Alexey Yakovlev, head of the Tomsk Polytechnic University’s Institute of Higher Technologies, says that the Tomsk-TPU-120 is the world’s first satellite developed with a 3D printer (though we’ve seen plenty of CubeSat projects involving 3D printers before, and 3D printed satellite components for a few years now). 3D printing, coupled with dynamic modeling, allowed the satellite’s developers to make it strong and vibration-resistant, while reducing its weight at the same time.Russian cosmonauts will launch the satellite from the outer surface of the ISS this summer, which will be, according to Yakovlev, “a tricky and expensive procedure, preceded by repair of the modernization of the space outpost.” Once it is launched, the Tomsk-TPU-120 will be in free flight mode for about six months, during which time its orbit will gradually ebb, until it eventually reaches the dense layers of the atmosphere, where it will be destroyed.“The Tomsk-TPU-120 is the first such project in the world, in which the entire casing of a satellite is fully printed using dynamic modeling,” said Yakovlev. “The combination of these technologies can significantly reduce the development time and the number of full-scale tests, find new engineering solutions and reduce the project’s cost.”
Yakovlev said, “Experiments with the satellite were conducted not only on board the ISS, but also on the ground. Many radio amateurs from all across the world were able to catch a satellite signal on their radio stations, and posted videos of it on the Internet.”
Take a look at their video of people picking up the satellite signal from the ground; really, all you need to do is listen!
Yakovlev says the Tomsk-TPU-120 will not be the last small satellite they work on developing during their ongoing project:
“The current project is just the first stage of a long-term project to develop and create small, multi-purpose satellites. In particular, this work pertains to the creation of an on-orbit group of satellites dealing with many urgent problems related to agriculture, forest fires, climate change and natural resources.”
He also mentioned that just a couple months ago, Roscosmos approved experiments that would focus on creating CubeSat satellites on board the ISS, with the help of a 3D printer, and being placed in orbit from there. These small, lightweight satellites are usually at least partially 3D printed, and can be launched for all sorts of purposes, including Earth imaging and atmospheric research.
Discuss in the CubeSat forum at 3DPB.com.
[Source: Sputnik News]
Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
You May Also Like
Print to Wear: Steve Madden Goes 3D with Hilos
Footwear is evolving. That’s how Hilos’ CEO sees it, envisioning footwear as the next big industry set to scale through 3D printing. During this year’s TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield 200...
3D Printing News Briefs, October 5, 2024: JIMTOF, Sensors, Façades, & More
In 3D Printing News Briefs today, 3D Systems announced a major milestone in the commercialization of the Oqton Manufacturing OS, the 32nd Japan International Machine Tool Fair (JIMTOF) announced a...
Daring AM: The Future of Pathogen Detection is 3D Printed
Pathogen detection is essential in many industries, from healthcare to food safety. The faster harmful bacteria or other microorganisms can be detected, the better we can protect people from diseases...
A$AP Rocky Debuts New 3D Printed PUMA Shoes
Rapper and producer A$AP Rocky has collaborated with PUMA and Carbon to create a shoe. The Mostro 3D “Red” is available today at Dover Street Market, Nubian, and SNEAKERSNSTUFF, as...