One of the greatest hurdles for space exploration is maintaining equipment and supplies. The farther you go from Earth, the harder it is to make supply runs or ship replacement parts. This is why it’s crucial to develop technology that will enable space pioneers to be as self-sufficient as possible.
Additive manufacturing – also known as 3D printing – is often proposed as a solution to these problems. 3D printers have the potential to create anything that astronauts need, whether it be tools or replacement parts. That’s one reason the ISS has already installed a 3D printer on board.
Which brings us to the Future Engineers Space Tool Challenge, the first in a series of 3D printing challenges for students. All of the challenges focus on designing solutions to real-world space exploration problems.
Sponsored by NASA and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the challenge aims to advance the technologies that are critical to the future of deep space exploration.
These challenges are part of the NASA Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate’s 3-D Printing in Zero-G International Space Station Technology Demonstration, the goal of which is to demonstrate the capabilities of in-space additive manufacturing technology.
This is the first step toward realizing a print-on-demand “machine shop” that will enable long-duration missions and sustain the human exploration of other planets.
Winning Design for a Multipurpose Precision Maintenance Tool
Currently a sophomore at the University of Alabama, Robert Hillan entered and won the Future Engineers Space Tool Challenge back in 2014, when he was still in high school.
Model image of Hillan's Multipurpose Precision Maintenance Tool for use on the International Space Station. (Image courtesy of Future Engineers.)
Hillan’s winning design is the Multipurpose Precision Maintenance Tool (MPMT), a handheld tool comprised of a variety of tool parts to enable easier maintenance tasks aboard the ISS. The MPMT includes:
- Various wrench sizes
- Different-sized drives for attaching sockets
- A precision measuring tool
- Wire gauges and a single-edged wire stripper
- A pry bar
- Space for a Velcro strip, and a circular opening for a clip, for easy carrying and storage
High school senior Robert Hillan of Enterprise, Alabama joined astronaut Scott Tingle, center, and Marshall Center Director Patrick Scheuermann, left, in the Alabama House of Representatives on April 9, 2015 as part of "NASA Alabama Aerospace Day." He is holding his Multipurpose Precision Maintenance Tool. Image. (Image courtesy of NASA/MSFC/Emmett Given.)
Though the competition took place over a year ago, this week Hillan will finally enjoy his prize, with a trip to the Payload Operations Integration Center at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
There he will have the opportunity to speak with the current astronaut crew of the ISS as they print and reveal the finished version of his design.
"This challenge has been an amazing experience which taught me many educational skills that will greatly benefit me in the future," said Hillan. "It has given me an opportunity to put something on the space station, something I've always wanted to do and I'm so grateful I was able to participate."
For more information, check out the International Space Station at NASA.