For quite some time in the us segment of the ISS operates successfully “inflatable” module BEAM. Employs special sensors that monitor the environment and collect data on space radiation. In order to study its effect, sensors it was decided to equip a special anti-radiation screens. Here they made good use of the 3D printer, manufactured by the startup Made in Space, and is designed to print three-dimensional objects in zero gravity.
The result of the work of steel plates, printed by the astronauts on Board the ISS. The thickness of the products ranged from one to ten millimeters. The difference is due to the fact that the astronauts want to examine the effect of radiation on sensors with different degree of protection.
According to the head starta Made in Space, the print objects in space will provide the crews of the ISS many necessary items right on the spot — so they will be able to save time and more productively perform their tasks.
Now to cosmic radiation is very dangerous for the human body, and so on BEAM recently there a variety of experiments, the goal of some of them is to study the effect of radiation on the body of astronauts. Valuable information gathered during these studies will be useful in the future, when people finally will be sent to Mars or lunar orbit.
3D printer startup Made in Space printed radiation shields on Board the ISS
Vyacheslav Larionov