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How PrintPlace contributes to Future Space Missions

The University of Brussels’ (ULB) Microgravity Research Centre (MRC) and PrintPlace worked together on the 3D Design and 3D Printing of a custom lattice structure. This uniquely designed and printed part formed the core component of a research set-up for the enhancement of heat transfer processes in microgravity or weightless environments. The component passed rigorous testing and was eventually selected to fly on the European Space Agency’s (ESA) 73th Parabolic Flight Campaign. The MRC developed a research set-up existing out of an evaporation-condensation process, in which the condensates, which are otherwise prone to splitting under microgravity or weightless circumstances, are instead “trapped” and can be extracted back to the evaporator. One of the very few ways this “trap” could be realized, was to design and print a custom lattice structure, but the requirements in terms of dimensional accuracy, thermal resistance and chemical compatibility were stellar. Together with MRC, PrintPlace set up a test campaign in which different lattice designs would be printed via different technologies in different materials in order to find the right combination. After narrowing down the possibilities to candidate components, MRC and PrintPlace cooperated to fine-tune the production and post-process in order to achieve the desired dimensional, thermal and chemical properties. The candidate components were exposed to several rigorous tests over extended periods of time and eventually one of the candidates passed and was selected to fly on the ESA’s 73th Parabolic Flight Campaign in November 2020.