ISS 3D Printer Creates First Object in Space

The first 3-D printer in space created its first object this week at the International Space Station. It created a faceplate for the print head casing, according to the Associated Press.

The printer was delivered to the space station in September via a Space X Dragon capsule. The 3-D printer was installed on the station on November 17.

"This first print is the initial step toward providing an on-demand machine shop capability away from Earth," said NASA's Niki Werkheiser, project manager for the International Space Station 3-D Printer, in a company press release.

Space station commander Butch Wilmore removed the small plastic creation from the printer Tuesday for a return trip to Earth.

Around 20 objects will be printed during the next few weeks for analysis back home, NASA said this week. The space agency has high expectations for its 3-D printer, with hopes to one day use 3-D printing to create parts for broken equipment in space.

"When the first human fashioned a tool from a rock, it couldn't have been conceived that one day we'd be replicating the same fundamental idea in space," Aaron Kemmer, chief executive officer, said in a statement, according to the AP report.

NASA's 3D printer was created under a contract with the startup Made In Space, which was founded in 2010. The company called it "a transformative moment."

The newly created, rectangular faceplate includes the Made in Space name, as well as NASA's, according to the AP report.

"This project demonstrates the basic fundamentals of useful manufacturing in space. The results of this experiment will serve as a stepping stone for significant future capabilities that will allow for the reduction of spare parts and mass on a spacecraft, which will change exploration mission architectures for the better," Made In Space's Mike Snyder said in a statement.

Information from these experiments should help the team at Made in Space work on its next 3-D printer, which should be delivered to the ISS in early 2015.