Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, is promising for the production of tools, components and spare parts directly in space, reducing the need for frequent resupply missions. However, 3D printing in microgravity is challenging owing to issues such as unpredictable material behaviour and difficult extrusion control. Recently, the European Space Agency demonstrated the first successful printing of a metal component in microgravity conditions. The metal 3D printer, built by Airbus and partners, arrived on the International Space Station in January 2024 and, after installation and testing, was successfully used to print a metal part from stainless steel wire. The mechanical properties of this initial sample will now be compared with those of an identical sample made on Earth to assess how microgravity impacts the 3D printing performance of metal parts.

增材制造或 3D 打印有望直接在太空中生产工具、组件和备件，从而减少频繁补给任务的需求。然而，由于不可预测的材料行为和难以控制的挤出等问题，微重力下的 3D 打印具有挑战性。最近，欧洲航天局展示了在微重力条件下首次成功打印金属部件。这台由空中客车公司及其合作伙伴制造的金属 3D 打印机于 2024 年 1 月抵达国际空间站，经过安装和测试后，成功用于打印不锈钢丝金属部件。现在，我们将把这个初始样品的机械性能与地球上制造的相同样品的机械性能进行比较，以评估微重力如何影响金属部件的 3D 打印性能。