3D printing technology is “going to heaven”! How about a trip to space?

Not long ago, a "3D printer" was installed on the new generation manned spacecraft test ship launched by the Long March 5B rocket. During the flight, the system independently completed continuous fiber reinforced composite Samples of the material were printed and the scientific experimental goals of 3D printing of composite materials in a microgravity environment were verified. This is the first time China has carried out an orbital 3D printing test, and it is also the first time to achieve space 3D printing of continuous carbon fiber reinforced composite materials.

The above results are indeed exciting. As early as a few years ago, 3D printing had already embarked on the path of application in the aviation field. In fact, in the aerospace field, the demand for rapid manufacturing of complex precision components, the demand for cost reduction and efficiency improvement of expensive materials, the demand for lightweighting of heavy-duty materials, and the demand for material strength are all calling for new manufacturing technologies and concepts.

3D printing has many significant advantages and can better adapt to the requirements of product manufacturing in the aerospace field, so it shines in this field. The advantages of 3D printing technology in the aerospace field mainly include the following aspects: cost reduction, rapid prototype verification, increased design freedom, and improved product manufacturing efficiency.

What would it be like to travel to space?

In people’s traditional impression, those who can go to outer space are generally astronauts. The application of 3D printing technology, such as 3D printed food, protective clothing, etc., is providing more protection for astronauts' "space journey". According to NASA reports, in order to allow astronauts on the space station to live normally, 3,175 kilograms of spare parts, 13,154 kilograms of aerospace hardware spare parts, and an additional 17,690 kilograms of spare parts need to be provided to the space station every year. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center's In-Space Manufacturing Division (ISM) has begun researching ways to use 3D printing technology to ease space missions.

In order to realize the dream of space travel, domestic and foreign technology companies have accelerated the pace of exploring outer space using cutting-edge technologies such as big data and 3D printing. As early as 2014, the space exploration technology company SpaceX launched a 3D printed component, the main oxidizer valve body, and Blue Origin also integrated 3D printed components into its powerful BE-4 engine. Rocket Lab can be said to be one of the institutions with rich experience in 3D printing aircraft parts. The laboratory has certain advantages in this field with its small satellite-specific launch vehicle Electron.
 

In the field of astronomical observation, 3D printing also plays a lot of roles. Recently, the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) used 3D printing technology to produce the mechanical structure of an ultraviolet telescope, which was recently sent to the Space Station (ISS). In the next three years, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos) will use the 3D printed Mini-EUSO telescope to analyze the ultraviolet radiation of the space station.

Some market research institutions predict that the value of the 3D printing market will triple in the next five years. By 2025, the 3D printing market will usher in an important turning point, and by 2029, the 3D printing market will reach US$55 billion. Aerospace and automobile manufacturing, as two major areas where 3D printing technology has been implemented, will usher in new opportunities for rapid expansion.

When looking up at the vast expanse of space, people’s hearts are always filled with infinite yearning and reverie. Perhaps it is precisely because of the vagaries and splendor of the universe that people are looking forward to space travel. With the continuous maturity of technologies such as the Internet of Things, 3D printing, Beidou navigation, extraterrestrial surveying, and the integration of space, earth, and space, it is very likely that people will realize their dream of traveling in space in the future.