A 23-minute NASA EDGE program giving an inside look at how NASA uses 3D printing (additive manufacturing) for space exploration. Viewers join NASA hosts Chris and Franklin as they tour cutting-edge projects from the Advanced Exploration Systems Office, seeing how custom parts are 3D-printed for use in rockets and on spacecraft. The episode explores the challenges of printing tools and components in microgravity and the potential to manufacture habitats or equipment off-Earth. Students will learn real-world aerospace applications of additive manufacturing – like weight-saving designs and on-demand part production – and discover how skills in CAD and materials science enable future space missions. This behind-the-scenes look connects advanced manufacturing skills to exciting careers building humanity’s future in space.
