3D Printing
News Videos Newsletter Contact us
Home / News / New Research Shows How Urine Can be Turned Into a 3D Printable Material During Space Voyages
qidi

New Research Shows How Urine Can be Turned Into a 3D Printable Material During Space Voyages

August 23, 2017

Remember that scene in Apollo 13 where the main crew dispose of all their waste in the depths of space? They’d be kicking themselves if they found out what a useful resource they had just chucked out. While presenting stunning new research at the American Chemical Society expo, Mark Blenner and his team outlined a method for turning urine into 3D printed plastic. The team believes this can be a boon to space travel and human survival in outer orbit conditions.

3DP Waste into Bio Plastic
Related Story
Calgary University Researchers Turn Fecal Matter Into 3D Printable Material

The method requires urine, the CO2 from breathing and the use of a yeast called Yarrowia lipolytica. When put together, the yeast metabolises nitrogen and carbon. Researchers can produce specific strands of the yeast that can put out different end-products. As a result, researchers were able to engineer a yeast that could produce polyester. This specific strand could then allow astronauts to print parts from the by-product.

Advantages to Space Travel

These findings have massive implications for space travel. The advantages are clear as day. Firstly, space travel requires economising space and cargo. This allows astronauts to reduce waste storage and printing materials storage at the same time. It also means that there will be less of a need to keep perishable goods on board the shuttle.

Additionally, it helps cut down on resupply trips, saving time, fuel and manpower. It also means waste disposal has far fewer steps. In fact, waste can be a productive resource, since now it fuels the creation of vital tools or products.

The research also opens many doors into future yeast applications. Further research could dive into the use of bacterias and yeasts into things like other plastics and conductive materials such as graphene, which also requires a lot of the same base elements and can be metabolised by bacteria. This is still an emerging field of research, but the possibilities are breath-taking.

3D Printing in Space

Innovations based around space travel are nothing new to the 3D printing industry. Some of the wildest concepts are coming from researchers attempting to make space habitation easier. One great example was earlier this year, when researchers revealed their plans to build self-replicating 3D printers. These future printers could potentially use lunar soil and other extraterrestrial materials to repair themselves or build other 3D printers.

Similarly, NASA are no strangers to combining 3D printing and space. They have also demonstrated the ability to 3D print food in space. In another story, NASA showed off its plans to manufacture 4D fabrics as sheaths for spacecrafts. These materials could reflect and absorb heat in extreme temperature circumstances.

3D printing is crucial to space travel. From the making of space crafts to shielding them to feeding their inhabitants, additive manufacturing is playing an increasing role. It also means that the aerospace industry invest more time and money into 3D printing. This mutually beneficial role between the 2 industries is boosting both their capabilities.

Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Latest posts

Laser-Assisted Cold Spray Technology Enhances Material Deposition Process

Researchers at the University of Cambridge's Center for Industrial Photonics have developed a new additive manufacturing technique called laser-assisted cold spray (LACS). The... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Laser-Assisted Cold Spray Technology Enhances Material Deposition Process

Titomic Netherlands Secures Strategic Funding to Advance Cold Spray 3D Printing Technology

Titomic Limited, an Australian company specializing in cold spray additive manufacturing, has received €800,000 in funding from the Netherlands' 3D Print Kompas program.... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Titomic Netherlands Secures Strategic Funding to Advance Cold Spray 3D Printing Technology

3D-Printed Insects Help Scientists Map the Limits of Mimicry in Nature

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a method to 3D print life-sized, color-accurate insect models for biological research. The team, led... read more »

Environmental

University of Hong Kong Scientists Explore Growing Organs with 3D Printing Technology

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) are working to combine 3D-printed respiratory tissue with lab-grown organoids to create functional airways for... read more »

Bioprinting
University of Hong Kong Scientists Explore Growing Organs with 3D Printing Technology

SHINING 3D Unveils EinScan Rigil with Tri-Mode Scanning for Pro-sumer Flexibility

SHINING 3D has launched its newest flagship 3D scanner, the EinScan Rigil — touted as the world’s first 3D scanner featuring Tri-Mode operation... read more »

News
SHINING 3D Unveils EinScan Rigil with Tri-Mode Scanning for Pro-Level Flexibility

ETH Zurich 3D Prints Recycled Plastic Structure for Swiss Ice Cream Shop

ETH Zurich students have completed a 3D-printed ice cream shop in the Swiss Alpine village of Mulegns. The project, called Gelateria, was designed... read more »

Construction
ETH Zurich 3D Prints Recycled Plastic Structure for Swiss Ice Cream Shop

Hugo Launches 3D Printed Loafers with Zellerfeld

Hugo, the younger brand under Hugo Boss, has partnered with 3D printing company Zellerfeld to create a fully 3D-printed loafer. The shoe is... read more »

Fashion
Hugo Launches 3D Printed Loafers with Zellerfeld

3D Printed Resin Combines Rubber Flexibility with Plastic Strength, Surprising Scientists

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a 3D printing method that can create objects with both soft and hard... read more »

News
3D Printed Resin Combines Rubber Flexibility with Plastic Strength, Surprising Scientists

LPE Supports Queen’s Propulsion Laboratory with 3D Printed Rocket Engine Chamber

Students at Queen's University Belfast have developed what they describe as Ireland's first student-built liquid rocket engine. The Kelvin Mk.1, named after Belfast-born... read more »

3D Printing Metal
LPE Supports Queen’s Propulsion Laboratory with 3D Printed Rocket Engine Chamber

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • QIDI Plus4

    • - Print size: 305 x 305 x 280 mm
    • - print temperature of 370°C
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech X-Max 3

    • - Print size: 325 x 325 x 315 mm
    • - fully enclosed
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech Q1 Pro

    • - Print size: 245 x 245 x 245 mm
    • - 600mm/s max speed
    More details »
    $449.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • Snapmaker Artisan Premium 3-in-1

    • - Print size: 400 x 400 x 400 mm
    • - comes with enclosure
    More details »
    $2,999.00 Snapmaker
    Buy Now

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
  • Creality Ender 5 S1
  • The Mole 3D Scanner
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2025 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing