Lunar regolith

You, Yes You, Can Now 3D Print with Moon Dust at Home

Flying cars, housecleaning robots, 3D printing on the moon—all out-there sci-fi predictions that will probably come true sooner rather than later. But, what if you just can’t wait? Well, thanks…

3D Printed Roo-ver Could Transport Moon Dust for Next Rover Mission

One of Australia’s two competing teams in the race to build a lunar rover has unveiled a first prototype. Dubbed the “Roo-ver,” this rover has been designed for a future…

3D Printing Lunar Highways with a Pinch of Sun and Dust

Lunar infrastructure projects, including several aimed at creating roads on the Moon, are already underway. Building on these initiatives, a new research effort led by the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und…

Building a Lunar Future: Beihang University’s Bold Steps into Space-Based Construction 3D Printing

Researchers from China’s Beihang University want to be at the forefront of space exploration. By combining transportation science, aerospace technology, and construction engineering, they aim to lay the foundations for…

New NASA Funding Ignites 25 3D Printing Projects in Space Exploration

NASA has selected 300 proposals for this year’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I awards. Following the trend of previous years, 3D printing…

Daring AM: Prepare to 3D Print in Space

NASA is laying the groundwork for the future of space 3D printing. Producing spacecraft, rocket components, advanced materials, and larger structures directly in orbit will revolutionize traditional off-Earth manufacturing. As…

Student 3D Prints NASA’s Fake Moon Dust to Test Feasibility of Lunar Construction

With Artemis missions closer to re-establishing a human presence on the Moon for the first time since 1972, NASA is hungry for innovative technologies to help moonwalkers explore the lunar…

3D Printed Extra Terrestrial Bricks Could Solve the Challenges of Space Building

With space roots that date back to its foundation in 1963, the University of Central Florida (UCF) serves as a major driver for the space industry across the state. For…

NASA Funds Contour Crafting’s Material Transport Tech for Lunar Construction

We recently reported that NASA was funding more than 20 3D printing-related proposals as part of its 2022 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program….

NASA Funds 3D Printing Research in 2022 SBIR/STTR Awards

Out of 333 proposals that NASA is funding as part of its 2022 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, 24 are either creating new…

3DPrint.com’s Top 10 Most Popular 3D Printing Stories of 2021

We finally made it to 2022! I feel like I said the same thing about 2021, but oh well. If you’ve been following along with us over the past week,…

Project Meeka: Developing Tech for 3D Printing Moon Habitats

Private teams are gearing up for lunar construction. Although this is not the first time in the last 50 years that we have heard of plans for lunar outposts, it…

How a Team of Students 3D Printed a Lunar Rocket Pad Prototype

Early in 2021, a multidisciplinary team designed and tested the world’s first 3D printed rocket pad prototype for lunar missions. Built at a Texas Military Department location in Camp Swift,…

Redwire ISS Experiment Targets In-Space 3D Printing with Lunar Regolith

Space manufacturer Redwire will send new hardware to the International Space Station (ISS) to demonstrate 3D printing with lunar regolith simulant in microgravity. This milestone could be a major leap…

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NASA Funds 36 Space 3D Printing Projects—Here Are the 15 Most Exciting

NASA’s latest funding of space technology projects includes plenty of 3D printing innovation proposals. Out of a total of 289 US small businesses and 47 research institutions to receive initial…

3D Printed Moondust Composite Deemed Suitable for Recycling & Re-Use

The topic of moondust—or regolith—is continually fascinating, especially as it offers the potential for constructing habitats in space. Numerous studies have been performed by researchers investigating whether regolith is indeed…