About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Materials Research in Reduced Gravity
|
| Presentation Title |
First Demonstration of Metal Additive Manufacturing Aboard the ISS: Mechanical Performance and Microstructural Analysis |
| Author(s) |
Caterina Iantaffi, Anthony Lécossais, Rob Postema, Advenit Makaya |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Caterina Iantaffi |
| Abstract Scope |
Additive manufacturing (AM) is a key enabling technology for in-space manufacturing, offering the potential for on-demand production of critical components to support long-duration space missions. This study presents the first successful demonstration of metal AM aboard the International Space Station (ISS) using a custom laser wire direct energy deposition (LW-DED) system in a controlled atmosphere. Metallic parts were printed on orbit and compared to terrestrial reference parts. Mechanical performance and material integrity were evaluated through tensile and bending tests with digital image correlation, metallographic analysis and X-ray computed tomography. Preliminary results show minor differences in bending behavior and pores morphology and distribution. These may be linked to altered heat and mass transfer in microgravity, potentially affecting process stability. Numerical simulations of the LW-DED process will be performed to support the experimental results. This work provides the first experimental evidence validating the feasibility of metal AM in prolonged microgravity. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Additive Manufacturing, Mechanical Properties, Characterization |