NASA to use 3-D printer to recycle plastic in space

NASA, Washington, delivered the Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station on Nov. 17 from its Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia. In the delivery, NASA sent the Refabricator, a 3-D printer and recycler that’s integrated into one machine. 

According to a NASA news release, the Refabricator will demonstrate the recycling of waste plastic and previously 3-D printed parts already on-board into high-quality filament, such as 3-D printer “ink.” NASA reports that the recycled filament will be fed into the printer to make new tools and parts as needed in space. 

NASA hopes that this technology could enable closed-loop, sustainable fabrication, repair and recycling on long-duration space missions and reduce the need to continually launch large supplies of new materials and parts of repairs and maintenance. 

NASA awarded a Small Business Innovation Research contract to Tethers Unlimited Inc., Bothell, Washington, to build the recycling system. NASA reports that Tethers Unlimited expects to yield significant, measurable improvements in the performance and consistency of 3-D prints by addressing degradation of the plastic during the recycling process and ensuring quality control. 

According to a NASA news release, the Refabricator takes into account the challenges and considerations associated with operation on the International Space Station and future missions in space, including microgravity, mass and volume constraints, safety requirements and limitation on direct human interaction. 

NASA adds that the combined recycling and 3-D printing capabilities will also help reduce waste that must be stored or disposed during long-duration missions.