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3D Printing Parts from Moon Rock, in Space?

Amit Bandyopadhyay and Susmita Bose, engineering professors at Washington State University, are well known researchers in the area of 3D printing for creation of bone-like materials for orthopedic implants. In 2010, researchers from NASA contacted Bandyopadhyay, asking if the research team might be able to print 3D objects from moon rock. Because of the tremendous expense of space travel, researchers strive to limit what space ships have to carry. To test the idea, NASA researchers provided Bandyopadhyay and Bose with ten pounds of raw lunar regolith simulant, an imitation moon rock that is used for research purposes. The researchers are now the first to demonstrate the ability to fabricate parts using the moon-like material. "It doesn't look fantastic, but you can make something out of it," says Bandyopadhyay.

Topics:
Composites Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Fastening Joining & Assembly Manufacturing & Prototyping Materials Mechanical Components Rapid Prototyping & Tooling Software

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    Transcript

    00:00:06 we got some materials from NASA this is a moon rock simulant and what we are trying to see if we can use this Moon Rock simulant to make some parts using printing technology so we basically printed materials as if you can think of doing it in outer space you scoop some material from the outer space whether it's moon or Mars and then basically you

    00:00:34 print parts of different shapes based on your need so this is basically a first generation work to show that the concept is real and if needed whether it's a tool or simple mat or whatever you need you can actually print it we can also do not only just make parts we can also use them to join parts to you know if there is any you know part that breaks or fractures so this technology can be used

    00:01:01 to actually join and make sure the parts that we sent from art actually can work well this is this is like you know Star Trek next Generation so this is you know it's science but it is also a very different type of science you know this is more of a you know fascinating work that has a very different uh you know application maybe it's not something that we are doing that will go to

    00:01:27 product tomorrow or day after but maybe next 50 years 100 years this is what is going to be the norm standard practice you know for the mankind so that's why it is it is very exciting for us to contribute in this area