You’ve been invited to design a 3D-printed tool for the International Space Station

By Kelly Hodgkins Published August 3, 2016

iss 3d print design challenge mouser — Mouser Electronics

Have you dreamed of designing a 3D-printed tool for use by the astronauts on the International Space Station? Here is your chance. Mouser Electronics, along with electronics supplier Amphenol and technology giant Intel, recently announced the ISS Design Challenge. The contest gives college students, engineers, and makers the opportunity to develop an object that will be printed on the International Space Station and used by the ISS astronauts.

The design has strict guidelines for the size, materials, and overall form that the item can take. The item must be small enough that it can be printed by the ISS 3D printer and must be comprised of the ABS, HDPE or PEI+PC materials that are supported by the printer. It also must have smooth edges to prevent the object from damaging the space station environment. Slip-fit and snap-fit designs are allowed, but the item must be a standalone object that does not require a support structure.

Recommended Videos

Though the dimensions and materials are limited, the program encourages each entrant to think creatively about what they are designing. The object can be a utility tool, a tool supporting research, or even something that provides entertainment for the astronauts.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

The use of electronics in the object is encouraged as long as it doesn’t interfere with space station operations and can be powered by a coin cell or other small alkaline battery. Submitted projects will be judged by former Mythbuster and Mouser collaborator Grant Imahara and former ISS commander Chris Hadfield.

The contest is part of the Empowering Innovation Together program, a collaboration between electronics supplier Mouser and celebrity engineer Imahara. “I love that this first-of-its-kind contest allows future engineers to build their confidence as a whole, and share in a global community of innovation,” Imahara said in a related statement. The contest is open now for submissions and the submissions period will close on October 7, 2016.

Topics

Contributor

Kelly's been writing online for ten years, working at Gizmodo, TUAW, and BGR among others. Living near the White Mountains of…

Space

See the best photos from the International Space Station this year

The International Space Station pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour during a fly-around of the orbiting lab.

As we reach the end of the year, NASA has shared some of the best pictures from the International Space Station (ISS) showing the research and other work being done there.

Some of the most striking photos are of the astronauts growing and tending to crops of vegetables, using two main pieces of equipment. The Veggie experiment grows primarily leafy vegetables like pak choi, as seen in this photo of NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins with his crop of Extra Dwarf Pak Choi:

Space

NASA to send more tourists to International Space Station

The International Space Station.

In this new era of space tourism, Russia’s Roscosmos space agency has already sent four amateur astronauts to the International Space Station in two missions since October. Now, NASA is gearing up for its first such flight, organized by private spaceflight company Axiom using SpaceX hardware, in February 2022.

This week NASA announced its second private mission to the ISS, again using Axiom. Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) is aiming to launch between fall 2022 and late spring 2023.

Space

NASA picks 3 companies to design private space stations

An illustration of the low-Earth orbit space station planned by Northrop Grumman.

NASA continues its push to commercialize low-Earth orbit, with the announcement of three companies that have been chosen to design private space stations. As the International Space Station ages and approaches retirement, NASA is providing funding for private companies to plan out potential replacements which could take over its research functions.

An illustration of the low-Earth orbit space station planned by Northrop Grumman. Northrop Grumman