Rabs Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Common... that's pretty cool :) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30549341 Astronauts on the International Space Station have used their 3-D printer to make a wrench from instructions sent up in an email. It is the first time hardware has been "emailed" to space. Nasa was responding to a request by ISS commander Barry Wilmore for a ratcheting socket wrench. Previously, if astronauts requested a specific item they could have waited months for it to be flown up on one of the regular supply flights. Mike Chen, founder of Made In Space, the company behind the 3-D printer, said: "We had overheard ISS Commander Barry Wilmore (who goes by "Butch") mention over the radio that he needed one, so we designed one in CAD and sent it up to him faster than a rocket ever could have." Mr Wilmore installed the printer on the ISS on 17 November. On 25 November he used the machine to fabricate its first object, a replacement part for the printer. Nasa says the capability will help astronauts be more self-reliant on future long duration space missions. Mike Chen added: "The socket wrench we just manufactured is the first object we designed on the ground and sent digitally to space, on the fly. "It also marks the end of our first experiment—a sequence of 21 prints that together make up the first tools and objects ever manufactured off the surface of the Earth." The other 21 objects were designed before the 3D printer was shipped to the space station in September on a SpaceX Dragon supply flight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L8_4thesh0w Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 It is a pretty cool feat but I doubt it can handle the necessary torque. I've had trouble enough with the forged steel types. I do believe I might try to abscond with it for a one-of-a-kind souvenir, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sg50 Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 NASA emailed a wrench to space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickGibsonDenver Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 One step closer to the Star Trek transporter..... "Beam Me Up, Scotty!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshall Paul Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 I wonder if they can email up a pizza and a six pack of beer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. C.O. Jones Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Beer, I don't know but look at that. http://youtube.be/ISXqC-YPnpc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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