China breaks through in space: first metal 3D printing in orbit successfully completed

China has successfully conducted its first experiment of metal 3D printing in space, marking a significant step forward in its on-orbit manufacturing capabilities.

The breakthrough experiment was carried out by a reversible scientific payload developed Institute of Mechanics At Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), as announced by the academy on Saturday. The cargo traveled to space on a suborbital vehicle Lihong-1 Y1, a commercially reusable spacecraft developed by a Chinese space firm CAS Space for space tourism.

The vehicle successfully completed its first test flight from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center After crossing the Kármán line - the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and space - and reaching an altitude of about 120 kilometres, the experiment autonomously produced metal components in microgravity.

This successful mission marks the transition of China's metal additive printing technology from „ground research“ to a new phase of „engineering verification in space“, bringing the overall technological level to the world's top. The experiment will significantly support the development of China's space manufacturing technology and will be a key element for future space infrastructure.

There are many more complex challenges in performing metal additive printing in the unique environment of space than on Earth. The research team overcame key issues, including stable material transport and forming in microgravity, fully closed-loop process control, and high reliability coordination between the payload and launch vehicle.

At the end of the experiment, the capsule and its cargo landed safely by parachute and was immediately retrieved. The scientists obtained valuable data such as melt dynamics, material transport, solidification behaviour and geometric accuracy as well as mechanical properties of the space-printed parts.

Lihong-1 Y1, known for its low start-up cost and high flexibility, it proves to be a reliable testing platform. In addition to the metal 3D printers, the cargo also contained rare rose seeds for agricultural research. The vessel will be developed for reusability, with its deputy chief designer Wang Yingcheng He said extensive testing of crew life support and highly reliable rescue technologies is underway, which will enhance opportunities for low-cost suborbital science experiments and commercial space tourism.

CMG