NextSpace TestRig: the world's first 3D printer for printing in outer space
A technology that could save the future of orbital missions from uncontrollable debris is being born in the basement of the University of Glasgow. The James Watt School of Engineering has opened the world's first test rig designed specifically to test materials that are to be 3D printed in space. It is called the NextSpace TestRig.
The NextSpace TestRig at the James Watt School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow. Illustration: James Watt School of Engineering
This development was made possible by Dr Gilles Bailet in partnership with The Manufacturing Technology Centre, with support from the UK Space Agency, which provided £253,000 for the project. The facility simulates space conditions - vacuum and temperatures ranging from -150°C to +250°C - to test whether printed materials can withstand real-world stresses outside the Earth.
Dr Gilles Bailet, Matthew Deans and Charlie Patterson with the NextSpace TestRig. Illustration: James Watt School of Engineering
In space, 3D printing is not a fashion, but a necessity. It is expensive and risky to launch entire antennas, reflectors, or station components from the Earth. It is much more efficient to create them on site - directly in orbit. But there is a nuance: in space, even a small crack can turn a part of the structure into a fragment flying at the speed of a bullet. And this fragment can be the beginning of a disaster.
The NextSpace TestRig allows polymers, metals and ceramics to be tested for strength under realistic conditions - using up to 20 kilotonnes of force and cooling-heating cycles. The unique system can test multiple samples in a single cycle, which significantly speeds up the process compared to traditional laboratories.
Charlie Patterson examines samples of 3D printed material tested on the NextSpace TestRig. Illustration: James Watt School of Engineering
This is not Baile's first development in the field of space 3D printing - he has already patented an orbital 3D printer that was tested on board a zero-gravity aircraft. The NextSpace TestRig is now open to scientists and commercial customers from around the world. It is also a future platform for creating safety standards in space manufacturing.
Iain Hughes from the UK Space Agency emphasises that this project is part of the strategy to develop the national space infrastructure. And Glasgow, which is already one of the leaders in the manufacture of small satellites, will receive a new powerful tool to strengthen its position internationally.
