Metal made in space lands on Earth

At ESTEC, ESA’s technical centre in the Netherlands, an engineer holds the first-ever metal part 3D-printed in space. Created aboard the International Space Station in 2024, the component landed on Earth in February 2025 to undergo testing in the Materials and Electrical Components Laboratory. By comparing it to samples printed on Earth, engineers can understand how microgravity affects the printing process.

This pioneering European-made metal 3D printer was built for ESA by an Airbus-led industrial consortium, confirming the pivotal role of the agency in boosting European innovation by spearheading the development of cutting-edge competitive European space technologies.