Infographic: 3D Printing and its Role in Space Exploration

It is safe to say, that additive manufacturing and aerospace are increasingly being seen to go hand in hand. This is especially the case when it comes to space. Though it may seem like science fiction, 3D printing has quickly been adopted for different applications in space exploration. Indeed, AM technologies have been used by organizations like NASA and the ESA for projects for a number of years now, with the first 3D printer being sent into space by NASA in 2014.

Though of course 3D printing can be used in a variety of industries, indeed we have spoken to you in-depth about its uses in the medical and automotive sector, it is extremely well-suited for this field for numerous reasons. First, when it comes to rockets, light-weighting, or decreasing the weight of parts, is critical. Metal 3D printing therefore plays a huge role in creating more optimized parts that are still strong. Meanwhile, thanks to the technologies’ versatility and flexibility, it is also been explored as a viable way for extraterrestrial construction (for example on the moon) among other projects. But of course that is not all.

In order to give you an overview of how 3D printing has already been used for applications in space, as well as to understand what innovations may await us in the future, we at 3Dnatives have taken it upon ourselves to create an infographic on 3D printing in space exploration, which you can find below (click on the image to zoom in).

The infographic is available as a PDF HERE

What do you think of the role of 3D printing in space exploration? Did you already know about one or more of these applications? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.