3-D printing and in-orbit manufacturing promise to transform space missions

Blog

3-D printing and in-orbit manufacturing promise to transform space missions

September 5, 2017

(SpaceNews, 8/22/17)

At Made In Space, the Silicon Valley startup that sent the first 3-D printer to the International Space Station, employees joke about the ways their technology would take the suspense out of popular space movies.

Apollo 13, for example, would be a pretty boring film if the astronauts had a 3-D printer to create adapters for their carbon dioxide scrubbers. Likewise, The Martian would have been a much different story if Mark Watney had access to additive manufacturing on Mars.

The Technical Assessment process CCAT conducted has allowed our organization to clearly identify the key points that will allow us to run more lean and efficient by highlighting improvement areas in our process.

Michael C. Malota, CFO, Windmade Products, LLC

Creating really great, hands-on activities takes time, so much more time than many teachers ever get. Kids like hands-on activities, and CCAT's activities are well thought out.

Laura Barbash, Science Teacher, Illing Middle School, Manchester

That's one of the great things about the program... there is a seamless integration; the teachers can put these pieces in the curriculum as they see fit. To excite veteran teachers tells me right away that this program is something of worth. They (CCAT) are good judges of what is good curriculum for our kids.

Melissa Gavarrino, 7-12 Science Department Coordinator, East Hartford Public Schools

We look forward to the partnership with CCAT to help us meet the goals and objectives of the SOAR initiative and address the energy workforce needs of the state of Connecticut

Shelly Jewell, SOAR Project Director

Hydrogen and fuel cell technology not only provides the necessary steps toward securing America's energy future, but it also creates quality jobs in a new and expanding technological field.

John Larson, Congressman, (D-Conn.)