NASA tests 3D printer that uses Moon dust as construction material for future missions

NASA engineers have taken a step ahe in using techlogy to test materials on moon. In a recent study, rthrop Grumman Sygnus carried a 3D printer that uses moon dust to make solid material and arrived at  International Station (ISS). 

According to Universe Today report,  ncy sent a 3D printer to International Station (ISS) as part of  Redwire Regolith Print (RRP) project to use reily available materials on moon to make what is required inste of having to haul lots of heavy equipment all way from Earth.

ncy informed that RRP was designed to enable use of regolith including dust, broken rocks, and or materials found on surface of extraterrestrial objects for on-demand construction of lunar structures. project was launched with Me In Manufacturing Device (ManD) 3D printer that was alrey onboard ISS.

NASA said, " primary objective of performing print operations is to successfully demonstrate manufacturing process capability in microgravity. secondary objective of print operations is to produce material samples for scientific analysis".

Considering  regolith-based 3D printing in microgravity, to furr under future missions to moon and Mars, NASA said, "Such techlogy could eventually be used to construct habitats, landing ps, and or structures for future exploration missions using on-site materials, rar than having to bring along all raw materials for such construction". 

Furr explaining use of 3D printing projects on earth's surface, NASA informed, "Development of infrastructure to improve quality of life in remote and undeveloped areas and on-site emergency construction during natural disaster response."

Redwire Regolith Print project

Redwire’s Chief Techlogy Officer Michael Snyder explained project and said, “ Redwire Regolith Print project is a tech demo of on-orbit ditive manufacturing using regolith simulating feedstock material".

Snyder furr said, “This represents a critical step in developing sustainable manufacturing capabilities for lunar surfaces that will ultimately establish a permanent human presence off-earth by utilizing available resources with aptive systems. So this is really exciting for future and hopefully, something like this gets eventually deployed to moon".

(Im credit: TWITTER)