14 DAY TRIAL // Getting a 3D printer up in orbit, to the International Space Station, was one of the biggest breakthroughs of the decade, even if it doesn't look like it now.
Still, it'll be a long time before anything relevant comes out of that. In the meantime, the space-interested forces still planet-side have their own plans to follow up on.
One of the biggest plans belongs to Deep Space Industries. DSI is a privately-held American company which plans to be the first one to start mining asteroids.
It doesn't expect to set up a flourishing business any time soon, but it's already using all the resources at its disposal to prepare for it. One of those resources is 3D printing technology.
More precisely, DSI has formed a partnership with Solid Prototype 3D Printing Services, a company from Austin, Texas.
Together, the two plan to design new and better spacecraft, integrating as many of the parts into the main, one-piece structure as possible.
Costs and safety are the main issue with space exploration projects at present, and this move could turn out to be essential in their neutralization.
The video below should help you get more acquainted with DSI's plans for outer space. Now we just need someone to create a space shuttle capable of actually traveling to the asteroid belt and back in good time.
