ISS Ground Crew Uses 3D Printer In Space

We already had “cloud” printing that lets people print documents from thousands of miles away. Now NASA has sent a print out of this world — and with an extra dimension.

After astronaut Barry “Butch”Wilmore installed a 3D printer in the International Space Station, NASA ground crew sent remote commands for two test calibration prints, then successfully printed an object, namely a faceplate for the printer itself. Wilmore reported that “part adhesion on the tray was stronger than anticipated” but only further testing will establish if that’s simply a calibration error or if layer bonding is different in microgravity.