Russian cosmonaut tries 3D printer in orbit

ISS, November 28. /TASS/. Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev ran a test print using a 3D printer on Monday aboard the International Space Station (ISS), his colleague, TASS special correspondent Dmitry Petelin reports. Prokopyev test-printed a mechanical part using a filament (printer wire) delivered by the Progress MS-21 transport cargo spacecraft in October. The model of the mechanical part was sent by specialists from the Earth. The Progress MS-20 spacecraft brought a 3D printer to the ISS for experiments in June. Cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev was the first to try the machine in zero gravity conditions. The purpose of the experiment is to develop additive technologies for making various types of products from polymeric materials in space. In the future, such knowhow will enable crews at near-Earth orbital outposts to manufacture the necessary parts and tools on site, without waiting for their delivery. On November 17, 2021, TASS and Roscosmos signed a memorandum of cooperation on opening the agency's bureau on the ISS. Cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin was the first special correspondent for TASS. His flight lasted 12 days. Cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev took over for him after that. Now, Dmitry Petelin sends his contributions from the ISS for the TASS news feed. Photo by Oleg Artemyev/TASS Read more