Astronauts on the International Space Station have printed the first metal part in space using the European Metal 3D printer [1].

This breakthrough allows crews to manufacture tools and spare parts on demand. Such capability is critical for deep-space missions where waiting for resupply flights from Earth is not feasible [2, 4].

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot documented the process in a timelapse video recorded on day 133 [1] of the mission during orbit 2,063 [1]. In the footage, Adenot retrieved the fourth sample [1] produced by the machine. The process requires strict safety protocols to protect the crew from the environment inside the printer.

"Before opening the printer, the procedure requires putting on safety goggles and a mask, just in case there are any floating nanoparticles," Adenot said [1].

Manufacturing in microgravity presents unique challenges compared to Earth-based printing. The European Metal 3D printer was designed to overcome these hurdles, enabling the creation of construction components, and tools directly in orbit [2, 3]. By printing metal parts on site, space agencies can reduce the mass of cargo that must be launched from the ground, a significant cost saving for long-term habitation of space.

This milestone represents a shift toward orbital autonomy. Rather than carrying every possible spare part for a spacecraft, crews can now print specific components as they break or as new needs arise [2, 4].

“Astronauts on the International Space Station have printed the first metal part in space.”

The successful printing of metal components in microgravity marks a transition from the ISS acting as a laboratory to becoming a functional shipyard. By eliminating the dependency on Earth-based logistics for hardware, space agencies can extend the duration and distance of human missions, making permanent lunar bases or Mars colonies more technically viable.