Chinese scientists have achieved a significant milestone in space-based manufacturing, successfully completing the country’s first laser wire-fed metal additive manufacturing experiment under microgravity conditions during a suborbital flight. The achievement was announced by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ (CAS) Institute of Mechanics, which described the mission as marking China’s official transition in space-based metal manufacturing technology from the stage of ground-based verification to in-space engineering verification, a progression that carries substantial implications for the future of long-duration space missions.
The experiment was conducted using a microgravity laser additive manufacturing recoverable scientific payload, developed by the Institute and launched aboard the PH-1 Yao-1 rocket built by Chinese commercial aerospace company CAS Space. The rocket carried the payload to an altitude of 120 kilometres above sea level, generating a high-quality microgravity environment for more than 300 seconds, during which the experiment was carried out. Among the key breakthroughs achieved were the successful formation and precise control of metal additive manufacturing under microgravity conditions, whole-process closed-loop monitoring and real-time adjustment of the manufacturing process, and highly reliable coordination between the payload and the launch vehicle. Following the completion of the experiment, the payload capsule descended safely via a parachute system and was successfully recovered, with metal components produced during the flight, complete experimental datasets, and performance parameters of the formed parts all retrieved by the research team.
Space-based metal additive manufacturing, commonly referred to as space-based metal three-dimensional printing, is widely regarded as a critical enabling technology for future space exploration endeavours. The ability to manufacture or repair spacecraft components directly in orbit drastically reduces dependence on ground-based supply chains, enhancing both the resilience and sustainability of deep-space exploration missions, long-term space station operations, and future lunar base construction projects. According to the Institute, the research team has progressively developed a foundational theoretical framework and process database for space-based metal manufacturing through a series of experimental platforms, including microgravity drop towers, parabolic flight aircraft, suborbital rockets, and on-orbit systems. Looking ahead, the PH-1 recoverable payload capsule is expected to be upgraded into an orbital-level space manufacturing spacecraft capable of remaining in orbit for at least one year per mission and supporting no fewer than ten reusable missions, with the facility designed to meet high-precision in-orbit manufacturing requirements while also supporting advanced scientific experiments in areas such as microgravity physics, space life sciences, and space materials science.
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