3D printing in microgravity

NASA and 3D printing
Sky-rocketing
Sep 3rd 2013, 14:25 by P.M.
http://www.economist.com/blogs/babba...nd-3d-printing

Article includes pictures of the 3D printer being tested on the Vomit
Comet. Next year, the 3D printer is planned to fly to ISS for more
testing.

This is some pretty exciting stuff if it works well. Being able to
print spare parts seems like a useful capability on a long duration
mission.

Jeff
--
"the perennial claim that hypersonic airbreathing propulsion would
magically make space launch cheaper is nonsense -- LOX is much cheaper
than advanced airbreathing engines, and so are the tanks to put it in
and the extra thrust to carry it." - Henry Spencer