--- title: The Possibilities of 3D Printing in Space description: NASA is now searching for methods to stay in space longer and more efficiently. The potential for 3D printing in space is a viable method to be explored. image: https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/hubfs/Canva%20images/3D%20Printing%20in%20Space%202014.png --- - [![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=2261676&conversionId=4842593&fmt=gif)Newsletter Signup](https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/3d-printing-in-zero-g#newsletter-form) ### Newsletter Form ROBO Global uses this information to keep you up to date on the latest investment insights and technology trends. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information, check out our [Privacy Policy](https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/privacy). If you cannot see the form above, you may have an ad blocker preventing it from loading. Please disable the ad blocker and refresh the page. ### Contact Form If you cannot see the form above, you may have an ad blocker preventing it from loading. Please disable the ad blocker and refresh the page. BEGIN YOUR SEARCH... [![VettaFi_ROBO_WHITE-1](https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/VettaFi_ROBO_WHITE-1.png?width=4320&height=1440&name=VettaFi_ROBO_WHITE-1.png "VettaFi_ROBO_WHITE-1")](https://www.roboglobal.com/) - [RESEARCH & INSIGHTS](http://www.roboglobal.com/research-insights) - [MEET THE EXPERTS](http://www.roboglobal.com/about-us) - ROBO Global Indexes - [ROBO Index](https://www.roboglobal.com/robo-global-indices/robo-index/) - [THNQ Index](https://www.roboglobal.com/robo-global-indices/thnq-index/) - [HTEC Index](https://www.roboglobal.com/robo-global-indices/htec-index/) - [How to Invest](https://www.roboglobal.com/robo-etfs) - [ESG](http://www.roboglobal.com/esg-policy) # Investment Insights Authored by: Erica Allaby Date: September 30, 2014 Category: [ROBO](https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/tag/robo), [Robotics & Automation News](https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/tag/robotics-automation-news) Share this: - - - - [mailto:?subject=The%20Possibilities%20of%203D%20Printing%20in%20Space&body=The%20Possibilities%20of%203D%20Printing%20in%20Space%20https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/3d-printing-in-zero-g](mailto:?subject=The%20Possibilities%20of%203D%20Printing%20in%20Space&body=The%20Possibilities%20of%203D%20Printing%20in%20Space%20https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/3d-printing-in-zero-g) ##### Related Posts - [![Turnkey Tech Investing: August 2023 Market Brief](https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/hubfs/ROBOBrief_Blog%20+%20Turnkey%20Tech-Sep-20-2023-04-28-59-7091-PM.png) Turnkey Tech Investing: August 2023 Market Brief](https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/turnkey-tech-investing-august-2023) - [![Autonomy Will Redefine Mobility in 2023](https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/hubfs/Mobility-Trend-Blog-Thumbnail.png) Autonomy Will Redefine Mobility in 2023](https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/autonomy-will-redefine-mobility) - [![Q2 In Review: Inside the ROBO, THNQ & HTEC Indexes](https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/hubfs/Q1%202021-1.png) Q2 In Review: Inside the ROBO, THNQ & HTEC Indexes](https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/q2-in-review-inside-the-robo-thnq-htec-indexes) - [![Automation Isn't Just For the Fortune 500](https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/hubfs/SMEs%20Automation%20Webinar%20Deck%20(Tifin)%20(1).png) Automation Isn't Just For the Fortune 500](https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/automation-isnt-just-for-the-fortune-500) ## The Possibilities of 3D Printing in Space One of NASA’s most important missions to date reached its final destination early last week. After nearly one year of travel, the Maven spacecraft passed into the Mars orbit. The spacecraft was shortly followed by India’s Mars Orbiter to collaborate on the study of the Red Planet. The Maven’s mission is to study the planet’s upper atmosphere in hopes to gain invaluable information about its molecular composition. NASA is confident that this information will shed light on questions that we’ve been wondering for a lifetime - can a human survive on Mars? Is it possible to cultivate life on the red planet? Questions like these will be answered in the coming days of the Maven expedition. While the organization has managed to overcome cosmic restrictions, NASA is now searching for methods to stay in space longer and more efficiently. The potential for 3D printing in space is now a viable method to be explored. Through the use of 3D printing, supplies can be created and maintained from the inside of spacecrafts, making it possible for astronauts to survive unaided for extended time periods. An experiment titled [3D Printing in Zero-G Technology Demonstration](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1115.html) launched this month and will continue to be tested throughout the coming year. The 3D printer that will be used at the International Space Station (ISS) was created by Made In Space Inc., a commercial company acquired by NASA through a Small Business Innovative Research Phase III contract. If the experiment proves to be successful, this could lay the foundation for an in-space field of manufacturing. The company is even experimenting with the possibility of using moon dust as a printing material- an experiment that has been successfully carried out in the lab. For now, the purpose of the experiment is to strictly to determine the capabilities of 3D printing in zero-gravity. However, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) will also fund a [phase I 3D printing six-month study](http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/home/feature_3d_food_prt.htm). This research, conducted by Systems and Material Research Consultancy, will focus specifically on the printing of a diversity of shelf-stable ingredients and nutrients. Through this process, NASA will determine if 3D printing can maximize productivity while minimizing time and waste matter. In order for 3D printers to work safely and efficiently in zero gravity, manufacturers needed to customize and test the printers to ensure their functionality. One enormous obstacle is guaranteeing that the printer is 100 percent emission-free. The process of 3D printing often includes the burning and reshaping of plastics, which oftentimes releases toxic fumes that would normally be of no significance. However, due to the recycled nature of the oxygen in the shuttles, there’s no room for error when it comes to the air. If all goes well on this newly launched mission, the stations may gain the ability to become nearly self-sufficient due in part to 3D printing. Printing materials would greatly reduce the number of replenishing space missions, thereby decreasing NASA’s spending drastically. These expenses could, in turn, be used to develop new space technologies. When we look to the ever-growing capabilities of robotics and automation, we may just find a world of possibilities outside of our own. One thing’s for certain, the sky isn’t the limit for 3D printing.   *By: Erica Allaby, Content Manager, ROBO Global* [Back to All Entries](https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com) VettaFi, a data, analytics, and thought leadership company, is transforming financial services from an industry to a community—one relationship at a time. In addition to providing interactive online tools and research, VettaFi offers asset managers an array of indexing and digital distribution solutions to innovate and scale their businesses. With billions in assets benchmarked to its indices– and more than 200 customers globally – asset managers look to VettaFi for benchmarks and best-in-class index solutions. VetttaFi owns and administers the ROBO Global Index Series. ## Navigation - [Home](http://www.roboglobal.com) - [ROBO Research](http://www.roboglobal.com/whitepapers) - [Investment Insights](https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com) - [ROBO Index](http://www.roboglobal.com/robo-global-indices/robo-index) - [THNQ Index](http://www.roboglobal.com/robo-global-indices/thnq-index) - [HTEC Index](http://www.roboglobal.com/robo-global-indices/htec-index) ### Newsletter Signup My rich text default content © 2026 ROBO Global Index, LLC. All Rights Reserved ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Erica Allaby", "url" : "https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/author/erica-allaby" }, "dateModified" : "2021-06-08T18:28:47.701Z", "datePublished" : "2014-09-30T15:58:12.000Z", "headline" : "The Possibilities of 3D Printing in Space", "image" : [ "https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/hubfs/Canva%20images/3D%20Printing%20in%20Space%202014.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/3d-printing-in-zero-g", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://insights.roboglobaletfs.com/hubfs/Imported%20images/ROBO_LOGO_WITHTAG_STACKED_BLUE.png" }, "name" : "ROBO Global & Range ETFs" } } ```