Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #30775: Testing Plastic Printing Materials in the Harsh Vacuum of Space

When we think about materials used in everyday 3D printing, we usually imagine their use in safe environments—labs, factories, or hobbyist homes. But what happens when these materials are exposed to the extreme environment of outer space? That’s exactly what the ExHAM-Plastic Printing Material Exposure Experiment sought to discover.

Conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS), this experiment, led by Ryusuke Shigematsu from Fudow Co., Ltd, involved exposing various plastic printing materials to space using the ExHAM (Exposed Experiment Handrail Attachment Mechanism). This platform allows materials to be directly placed outside the ISS, facing the unfiltered effects of space.

Why is this important? In space, materials are subjected to intense ultraviolet radiation, vacuum conditions, temperature extremes, and atomic oxygen. Understanding how plastic printing materials degrade or survive under such conditions helps researchers improve their performance and durability. This has direct applications for future space missions where 3D-printed components might be produced onboard or used in constructing habitats on the Moon or Mars.

The ExHAM platform made it possible to collect real-world data from actual space exposure rather than relying solely on simulations. Over multiple expeditions (59/60, 61/62, 63), scientists retrieved samples to analyze changes in color, texture, strength, and molecular structure.

This work, under the sponsorship of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), plays a crucial role in advancing space manufacturing technology. It opens doors for producing replacement parts and tools directly in space, reducing the need to launch every component from Earth.

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