14 DAY TRIAL // Ferrying things into space isn't exactly easy or cheap, especially when there's a single International Space Station up there in orbit. However, for several weeks, the people living there have been able to create their own tools. One of them you can now make as well.
In case you don't already know, a company by the name of Made in Space gave NASA a 3D printer capable of operating in zero gravity.
The Zero-G 3D printer, apt name that one, was sent to the International Space Station not too many weeks ago.
Since then, it has been used to produce certain necessities, as well as sample objects. Since this is the first time manufacturing capabilities were lifted off-planet, it is a very big deal.
One of the most recent things printed up on the ISS was a wrench, since Station Commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore needed one.
How you can get the space wrench
Easily really. NASA has released the 0.73 MB file, so all you need to do is download it and use a 3D printer to make the physical object from plastic.
If you don't own a 3D printer, you can ask SolidWorks, MakerBot or some other 3D printing service to do it for you. It kind of defeats the purpose of home manufacture though.
Anyway, the wrench was printed as a test run more than anything, to confirm that, in the event of off-planet colonies or some such, people will be able to manufacture parts on an as-needed basis.
The issue of build material hasn't been solved yet, and we'll probably be stuck sending supply craft periodically for decades, but that's to be expected.
The story of 3D printing in space
The Made in Space Zero-G 3D printer was received by the ISS and installed on November 17, after which some calibrations and test runs were scheduled.
NASA astronaut and International Space Station Commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore carried out the calibration and test.
After that, on November 24, the printer received a command from the ground control to make a faceplate of the extruder casing, demonstrating the ability of the printer to make replacement parts for itself.
The wrench was, you could say, the first thing that was actually a necessity, barring the surgeon kit. When returned to earth, the items will be compared to those printed planetside, in order to figure out how to further refine 3D printing in zero gravity.
