3D Printing has been the latest revolution in the manufacturing market. Revolutions come and go, but nothing will probably be as lasting and life altering as this revolution. Not only is 3D Printing a method of manufacturing that changes the way the world functions, allowing scope for innovation and creativity in a way that has never been seen before. The scope for bringing your imagination to reality is endless as anything you can imagine in a solid form can be printed with the right coding and equipment.

Therefore it is no surprise that this groundbreaking technology has managed to make its way into the outer space.  NASA and other space organizations have been using 3D Printing to manufacture parts that are more lasting and cost less. But what did come as a surprise was the news of a 3D printed tool designed by a student being used on the International Space Station.

RJ Hillan, a senior in high school won the Future Engineers’ the Space Tool Challenge. In the competition, the students were asked to design a product to be used in space but could be 3D printed as well. The winner’s design would be printed on the 3D printer on board the International Space Station. The winner, RJ Hillan, also got a chance to interact with Tim Kopra and Jeff Williams, astronauts from NASA, discussing his tool design.

In an interview he said that he got an opportunity to see his design being printed and float in zero gravity and described it in the following words: “It felt pretty awesome, really incredible. This was an experience I never thought I’d actually be able to experience.”