3D Printing Helps Launch Robotic Asteroid Surveyors

Space exploration has been one of humanity’s collective dreams for as long as we’ve gazed up at the stars. Like any dream, the realization requires hard work and a nuts-and-bolts approach to overcome logistical problems. For any space program, one such problem is the transportation of basic parts and materials from Earth into space.

A better solution, and one long foreseen by science fiction writers, is to use the natural resources offered by space. Rather than spend $50 million for every ton sent into space, companies like Planetary Resources are mapping out workable solutions to gathering and working raw materials gathered from existing resources, such as near-Earth asteroids. 3D Systems, and its expertise with additive manufacturing (AM), has become an important part of the process.

The first object every created using 3D printing and meteoric materials. Courtesy of Planetary Resources.

To determine which, if any, of the near-Earth asteroids might be considered prime real estate for mining operations, Planetary Resources is developing a series of robotic survey craft. The small survey craft will be piggyback on larger space-bound craft, launching off on their own missions once they reach space. Planetary Resources has embraced AM in order to speed up the design process of its surveyors.

“3D printing enables us to experiment with design concepts and produce better-functioning production parts much quicker, without worrying about the processes involved with traditional manufacturing,” said Chris Lewicki, president and CEO of Planetary Resources. “3D printing has come of age and we believe it represents the future of aerospace manufacturing.”

Planetary Resources has already developed two test craft, one of which was sent into space last fall. The test craft are about the size of a cereal box, and were sent out to test the basic design and onboard systems. The actual survey robots will be about double the size of the test models and will weigh around 30 lbs.

In addition to leveraging AM to speed up design iterations, 3DS and Planetary Systems recently collaborated in an experiment using meteoric metals with 3D printing. The materials were harvested from a meteorite that landed in Argentina, composed of iron, nickel and cobalt. A fragment of the meteorite was crushed, and the resulting metallic powder was used to fuel 3DS’ ProX DMP 320 metals 3D printer. The test was successful, resulting in the first object ever built using 3D printing and meteoric materials.

Below you’ll find a video about Planetary Resources.

Sources: 3DS, Planetary Resources