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| Made In Space’s Director of R&D Prepare The Printer For Launch |
Made In Space, covered previously here on 3DEngr, is annoucning a new milestone in testing of their additive manufacturing machine. Their lofty goal of putting a 3D printer on the ISS (International Space Station) requires numerous check-ins with NASA, who is funding much of the project. Michael Snyder, Director of R&D, noted “We’ve engaged in a fast-paced mission starting in early 2013 to produce hardware that NASA would qualify for launch and installation to the ISS in 2014.”
This pace of development will continue with an August 15th Critical Design Review. According to team member Grant Lowery the simple goal of the review is “to pass it”. Doing so means getting the NASA team to deem the design at least 90% complete for actual flight. This would put Made In Space one step closer to a spot aboard a SpaceX -5 rocket destined for the ISS in 2014.
Once aboard the station the printer has the potential to dramatically effect the payloads of future trips. With the supplied raw materials a printer would be able to replicate a replacement part, rather than stocking two of everything onboard.