LIA NEWS
“The next logical step is printing with regolith on other planetary bodies”
friction stir welding, which can run into the $2m-cost range. 3D printed parts are now on Mars – the
Perseverance rover has 11 components produced by laser AM. Astronauts have already successfully printed polymer and ceramic parts on the International Space Station, where the feedstock is less volatile than metal powder – fines can be pyrophoric. However, the goal of 3D printing on another planet is now in reach. On Earth we have been able to print low-cost housing with ceramics, so this will very likely translate to the next logical step: printing with regolith on other planetary bodies such as the moon or Mars. It will be obviously easier to print extra-terrestrially using native feedstock, rather than dealing with the storage and handling of material feedstock during launch, flight and landing. The overall reduction in lead time from
traditional manufacturing processes results in a greater number of flight windows for the final vehicle. The increased availability of flight windows, higher orbits and larger payloads opens up more opportunities for customers to go into space, whether it be space tourism or satellite customers. It is an exciting time to be involved in
space exploration, and laser AM is the perfect tool to achieve these lofty goals. Keep watching the skies! l
Eliana Fu was educated at Imperial College, University of London with a Masters and PhD in Materials Science. She performed post-doctoral research at Loughborough University (UK) and Clemson University (USA). After working extensively in the traditional manufacturing world, with TWI, then TIMET and SpaceX, she turned her attention to AM at SpaceX, then with Relativity Space as a senior engineer of additive technologies. She then joined Trumpf as industry manager aerospace & medical. She is the Women in 3D Printing ambassador for Las Vegas and is involved with other volunteer STEM activities for middle-school children. Eliana has written a book based on her experiences at SpaceX.
About LIA
LIA is The Institute for Photonic Materials Processing Innovation. Our vision is to help make the world a better place through safe, optimal and novel use of lasers, optics and photonics, including quantum science and technology, and their application to advanced materials.
www.lia.org
13501 Ingenuity Drive, Ste 128, Orlando, FL 32826, +1 407.380.1553
Future missions to planets must include 3D printing
WWW.LASERSYSTEMSEUROPE.COM | @LASERSYSTEMSMAG AUTUMN 2021 LASER SYSTEMS EUROPE 35
Nasa
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