3D-printed material
Stratasys tests on the moon
Stratasys has announced that it will provide 3D printed materials for an upcoming lunar mission to test their performance on the lunar surface.
The experiments are part of the first Space Science & Technology Evaluation Facility Mission (SSTEF-1) of Aegis Aerospace, Inc. SSTEF is a commercial space test service developed by Aegis Aerospace in Houston, Texas, as part of NASA's Tipping Point Program to provide research and development services on the lunar surface. The SSTEF-1 project focuses on the technological development of space infrastructure and capabilities for the Moon and near-Earth space. The Stratasys experiments are sponsored by the Northrop Grumman Corporation.
Lander to bring material to the moon
In this lunar mission, samples 3D-printed by Stratasys will be brought to the lunar surface in a carrier structure, also 3D-printed by Stratasys, on board an unmanned lander. Three materials are the focus of two experiments led by Northrop Grumman.
In the first experiment, the behavior of a coupon sample made of Antero 800NA FDM, a tungsten-filled filament from Stratasys, is tested. Antero 800NA is a high-performance PEKK-based thermoplastic with excellent mechanical properties, chemical resistance and low outgassing. The addition of tungsten serves to shield against harmful radiation such as gamma or X-rays.
The second passive experiment is designed to show how 3D printed materials behave in space. The ESD properties of the FDM filament Antero 840CN03, which was designed for components in electronics and used in the Orion spacecraft, will be tested. The experiment will also include a new ESD photopolymer produced by Stratasys partner Henkel for use with Stratasys Origin® One series 3D printers, designed for high heat environments. This experiment will test how coupon samples of the 3D printed materials behave in moon dust, the effects of rapid temperature fluctuations caused by the absence of an atmosphere and the extent to which outgassing occurs without an external pressure.
"Additive manufacturing is an important technology for space missions where every ounce of weight matters and high performance is essential," said Chief Industrial Business Officer Rich Garrity. "These experiments will help us understand how we can best utilize 3D printing to protect people and equipment on the way to the moon and beyond."
The parts are brought to the lunar surface by an unmanned lander. They are housed in a carrier structure 3D-printed by Stratasys from the thermoplastic material ULTEM™ 9085, which is also used for the interiors of commercial aircraft.
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