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NASA Just Emailed A Wrench To The International Space Station
iflScience ^ | 19 Dec 2014 | Janet Fang

Posted on 12/21/2014 1:25:28 PM PST by shove_it

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Very cool!
1 posted on 12/21/2014 1:25:28 PM PST by shove_it
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To: shove_it

Scheme is to do this for aircraft parts on carriers.

Reduce inventory.

Need 3d parts to meet flight certified criteria, however.


2 posted on 12/21/2014 1:27:36 PM PST by Scrambler Bob (/s /s /s /s /s, my replies are "liberally" sprinkled with them behind every word and letter.!)
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To: null and void

Of possible interest.


3 posted on 12/21/2014 1:27:41 PM PST by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: shove_it
The other astronauts now have their own requests.


4 posted on 12/21/2014 1:30:02 PM PST by ClearCase_guy (Democrats have a lynch mob mentality. They always have.)
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To: shove_it

A wench?


5 posted on 12/21/2014 1:33:40 PM PST by cyn (Benghazi.)
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To: Scrambler Bob

The concept goes way back. On wooden ships,ship carpenters made things, and did repairs from planks of wood. Modern ships carry machine shops. It makes even more sense in space — given the cost of lifting spare parts to orbit.


6 posted on 12/21/2014 1:33:56 PM PST by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: shove_it

3-D printing combined with asteroid mining could be the genesis of a great leap in human space flight.


7 posted on 12/21/2014 1:37:42 PM PST by cripplecreek (You can't half ass conservatism.)
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To: cyn

How about a wrench wench?


8 posted on 12/21/2014 1:39:21 PM PST by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: shove_it

That’s nice.

When can I print a new pair of custom ski boots?


9 posted on 12/21/2014 1:40:56 PM PST by Regulator
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To: shove_it; SunkenCiv

Indeed, VERY COOL!!

This is revolutionary technology!!! I can’t wait to see how it will apply to firearms components!

I expect governments/TPTB will look to regulate the hell out of this, as it will threaten their very existence in many ways.


10 posted on 12/21/2014 1:42:30 PM PST by KoRn (Department of Homeland Security, Certified - "Right Wing Extremist")
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To: Scrambler Bob

Don’t you need metal for some tools?


11 posted on 12/21/2014 1:43:54 PM PST by Morpheus2009
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To: cripplecreek

Yeppers. You could 3d print satellites (for Earth and other planets), space-based manufacturing facilities, space stations, manned space vehicles to explore the solar system, etc., etc.


12 posted on 12/21/2014 1:44:38 PM PST by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: ClearCase_guy
It might sound goofy but at some point, it will be possible to email a woman to a needy astronaut sitting out there in space.

3-D printing will eventually evolve to become the "transporter" that we see on those Star Trek shows. Rather than creating a copy of an object from ones and zeros, you will be able to render the genuine article into ones and zeros that can then be sent (at speed of light) to be re-assembled at a far-distant portal.

Likely not in our lifetimes but this is where the technology is heading.

13 posted on 12/21/2014 1:45:43 PM PST by SamAdams76
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To: KoRn

Well, they are behind the curve considering that loads of illegal data and such regularly slips past government hands, yeah, despite copyright laws, the government is about as effective at controlling Internet data streams as they are out national borders.


14 posted on 12/21/2014 1:46:41 PM PST by Morpheus2009
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To: shove_it

Next order: One T-bone. Medium rare.


15 posted on 12/21/2014 1:48:07 PM PST by maine-iac7 (Christian is as Christian does - by their fruits ye shall know them.)
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To: Scrambler Bob
Re: Scheme is to do this for aircraft parts on carriers.

Ah yes - instead of the Blue Angels," you'll have plastic Flying Flamingos.

16 posted on 12/21/2014 1:50:48 PM PST by Cribb
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To: shove_it

Yeah...email me a beer!


17 posted on 12/21/2014 1:52:26 PM PST by 4yearlurker (Some people say that experts agree!!)
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To: shove_it

Just like the Jetsons cartoon, dial it in, and presto, the product is there.


18 posted on 12/21/2014 1:52:44 PM PST by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.)
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To: SamAdams76

3D printing means to cut out an object, totally turning energy into complex living matter and vice versa is light years away from safe. While Einstein may not be completely right about the speed of light to some people, it still takes demonstratably a large quantity of energy to form miniscule quantities of matter, and that energy is usually really intense and deadly, such as gamma rays.


19 posted on 12/21/2014 1:55:30 PM PST by Morpheus2009
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To: Morpheus2009

You brought up a question I have about the rage about 3D printing. Only in a virtual world with metrosexuals that really don’t do any hard work, PLASTIC is only good for toys and fake flowers.

Oh heck this is probably as good as the Ruski or Chinese metal tools they have on-board.


20 posted on 12/21/2014 2:01:17 PM PST by X-spurt (CRUZ missile - armed and ready.)
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