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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

A 3D printer with a recycling device is headed to the International Space Station [cnn.com]

The International Space Station's first 3D printer with its own recycling machine is en route to the orbital laboratory aboard a Northrop Grumman spacecraft.

The Cygnus spacecraft launched early Saturday morning aboard an Antares rocket, carrying 7,400 pounds of supplies to aid dozens of investigations and research projects conducted on the space station, NASA said in a news release.

The load includes the space station's first all-in-one 3D printer and recycler, known as the "Refabricator [nasa.gov]," NASA said. It will be able to take plastic materials and old 3D-printed parts on the space station and recycle them into new 3D-printer "ink" that will allow astronauts to make new tools in space.

The technology will also "greatly reduce the need to continually launch large supplies of new material and parts for repairs and maintenance," NASA said. That, in turn, should reduce the cost of the resupplying the space station.

The demand for plastic wrenches aboard the ISS will be satisfied.

Also at Space.com [space.com] and Yahoo! [yahoo.com]:

The space station marks its 20th year in orbit on Tuesday. The first section launched on Nov. 20, 1998, from Kazakhstan.

2014: Open for Business: 3-D Printer Creates First Object in Space on International Space Station [nasa.gov]

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