Once off-planet, discarded waste materials should be treated as an in-situ resource for the sustainment of long-term crewed missions. Working with NASA’s Deep Space Logistics team, re:3D Inc, a manufacturer of industrial 3D printers capable of printing directly from ground thermoplastic waste, has evaluated the printability of a number of potential waste streams currently available on board the International Space Station and other planned missions. In addition, they have developed and demonstrated a low size, weight and power (SWaP) engineering prototype of an in-space recycling system to process and print with logistics packaging foams. Patrick Ferell, a re:3D Senior Engineer, will present an overview of their findings on in-space waste stream availability and suitability for use in material extrusion 3D printing and the results of processing and printing packaging foam in the recycling system. Session attendees will learn about waste resources potentially available as feedstock for thermoplastic In-Space Manufacturing (ISM), the challenges and successes re:3D has experienced with selected waste materials, and test results from a successful implementation of the low-SWaP recycling system for logistics foam waste.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, participants will be able to name five thermoplastic waste streams available for in-space recycling.
Upon completion, participants will be able to list three challenges associated with FGF material extrusion additive manufacturing in microgravity.
Upon completion, participants will be able to identify three use cases for in-space manufacturing using recycled materials.
