NASA's 3D printer on the International Space Station this week successfully produced the first object ever printed in orbit — a faceplate for the printer itself with the logos of NASA and Made in Space, the company that made the printer. Next astronauts will print parts and tools that will be tested back on Earth to see how they stack up against objects made by an identical printer on the ground. The idea is to manufacture parts and tools in space to save time and make the space station more self-sufficient.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
-
China: a superpower’s slumpThe Explainer After 40 years of explosive growth, China’s economy is now in deep distress — with no turnaround in sight
-
Retirees’ biggest surprise expense
Feature And more of the week's best financial insight
-
The United Auto Workers’ strike has put Democrats in a bind
Feature President Biden will have to pick a side in the dispute
-
Former Philadelphia police officer charged with murder for Eddie Irizarry shooting
Speed Read
-
How Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio's 22-year sentence compares to other Jan. 6 punishments
Speed Read
-
Kansas police raid small-town local newspaper, setting off a press freedoms clash
Speed Read
-
Ohio voters defeat GOP measure to raise referendum threshold
Speed Read
-
Ohio is voting on whether to raise the bar on referendums — and a popular abortion amendment
Speed Read
-
Oregon lifts ban on drivers pumping their own gas
Speed Read
-
Former Manson follower Leslie Van Houten out of prison after 50 years
Speed Read
-
Florida construction and agricultural workforces diminished after new immigration law takes effect
Speed Read
