National Research Council Releases Study on the Potential of 3D Printing in Space

A new report released this week by the National Research Council says that 3D printing might enhance U.S. missions to outer space in the future, but not significantly at this time. Some of the ways the report said that 3D printing could be used in space exploration include, enabling the manufacturing of replacement parts in space and requirements of launch logistics. Though certainly are very positive benefits, the NRC report, which was sponsored by NASA and the U.S. Air Force, states that the technology is not without its limitations.

Some of the limitations of 3D printing in space are due to the nature of space itself. These limiting factors include the vacuous nature of outer space, zero gravity and thermal fluctuations. The usefulness of 3D printing in space is seriously diminished due to these limitations, as they can actually affect the manufacturing process and the outcome of products produced via the technology.

Another current constraint on 3D printing in outer space is the cost. According to the report, at the moment it’s not fiscally feasible at present to operate, maintain and power 3D-printing operations in space in a way that doesn’t affect the mission. The automation that a 3D printer provides presents another cost challenge since a person or robot will need to be involved in moving parts from one machine to the next.

For those reasons, Robert Latiff, chair of the committee that wrote the report, president of Latiff Associates, and a former Air Force Major General, said that for now, 3D printing will just be another utensil in NASA’s arsenal.

“For in-space use, the technology may provide new capabilities, but it will serve as one more tool in the toolbox, not a magic solution to tough space operations and manufacturing problems. However, right now NASA and the Air Force have a tremendous resource in the form of the International Space Station,”  he said. “Perfecting this technology in space will require human interaction, and the Space Station already provides the infrastructure and the skilled personnel who can enable that to happen.”

To get 3D printing in space where everyone wants it to be, the report recommends that NASA, the lead developer of space-based additive manufacturing technology, improve communications inside and outside the agency and create a plan to further develop 3D-printing technology. The report also states that NASA should identify and explore any experiments that it can develop and test aboard the International Space Station. The committee that authored the report said that the Air Force and NASA should invest in training scientists, engineers and designers with expertise in additive manufacturing. This report is available for pre-order on the National Academies Press website.

What do you think?  Will 3D printing play a major role in space travel and exploration in the foreseeable future?  Let’s hear your thoughts at the 3D printing in Space forum thread on 3DPB.com.