First Metal 3D Printer in Space Prints the First Metal Part on the ISS

3-D printing in space is not new. Since 2014, the International Space Station (ISS) crew has used many 3-D printers to replace plastic parts. However, crew autonomy is increasingly critical as exploration missions lengthen—and metal part replacement becomes mandatory.

The European Space Agency (ESA) and Airbus collaborated on the first metal 3D printer in space. They launched ESA’s Metal 3D Printer in early 2024, and ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen installed the payload in the European Drawer Rack Mark II of ESA’s Columbus module. By August, the printer had successfully finished printing its first 3D metal shape. The crew will return the printed products to Earth for quality analysis.

The ESA’s technology demonstrator is the first to print a metal part in microgravity conditions successfully. CNES oversaw print operations from their control center for ISS payloads.

“With the printing of the first metal 3D shape in space, ESA Exploration teams have achieved a significant milestone in establishing in-orbit manufacturing capabilities. This accomplishment, made possible by an international and multidisciplinary team, paves the way for long-distance and long-duration missions where creating spare parts, construction components, and tools on demand will be essential,” says Daniel Neuenschwander, Director of Human and Robotic Exploration at ESA.