![Copernical Team](/components/com_k2/images/placeholder/user.png)
Copernical Team
Spacecraft, landers and rovers could be recycled for parts on the moon
![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![A pen alongside 3D printed parts that it could eventually be recycled into. Credit: Incus Spacecraft, landers and rovers could be recycled for parts on the moon](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2023/spacecraft-landers-and.jpg)
Additive manufacturing is slowly becoming more and more useful as the technology improves. One of the places it continues its development is in the realm of space exploration. It has long been mooted as an integral part of any in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) efforts and is especially important for ensuring early explorers on the moon have the right tools and materials they need to survive.
The European Space Agency is supporting that research effort, as their Technology Development Element fund supported work by an Austrian company called Incus to develop a 3D printing solution that could reprint metal parts on the moon.
The moon undoubtedly has plenty of metallic ore ready to be mined by either robots or explorers. However, making metal from that ore is expensive in energy and time, both of which are limited in any early lunar exploration scenario.
Russia to launch Luna-25 on Friday, first moon mission in 50 years
![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/luna-25-module-moon-earth-russia-lander-mission-marker-bg.jpg)
SpaceX launches 22 additional Starlink satellites
![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/spacex-falcon-9-starlink-6-8-c-and-j-images-bg.jpg)
Register now: ESA Open Day for people with a disability
![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![ESA Open Day for people with a disability](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2023/08/esa_open_day_for_people_with_a_disability/25037066-3-eng-GB/ESA_Open_Day_for_people_with_a_disability_card_full.jpg)
Registration is now open for this year’s annual ESA Open Day in the Netherlands for people with a disability, which will take place on Saturday 7 October, at the Agency’s ESTEC technical centre in Noordwijk.
Save the date: ESA Open Day 2023 in the Netherlands
![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![ESA Open Day](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2023/08/esa_open_day/25036648-4-eng-GB/ESA_Open_Day_card_full.jpg)
Save the date: this year’s annual ESA Open Day in the Netherlands will take place on Sunday 8 October, at the Agency’s ESTEC technical centre in Noordwijk. Registration to attend will be opened later this summer; keep an eye on this webpage and social media for further details.
Liftoff: 360 view of final Ariane 5
![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/videos/2023/08/liftoff_360_view_of_final_ariane_5/25032748-1-eng-GB/Liftoff_360_view_of_final_Ariane_5_card_full.jpg)
In July 2023 local time, the last Ariane 5 blasted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Relive the moment from up close in this 360° video showing the liftoff and Ariane 5 soaring to orbit.
The audio comes from the camera itself that was clamped to a steel cable on a northern ramp surrounding the Ariane 5 flame trench – about 50 m from the ZL3 launchpad. Despite being so close the camera was only protected against the humidity and rain in French Guiana. A solar panel provided extra power to the camera as it had to
Webb spotlights gravitational arcs in 'El Gordo' galaxy cluster
![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/webb-gravitational-gravity-lenses-arcs-galaxy-cluster-el-gordo-bg.jpg)
DLR harnesses 3D Printing for efficient production of spaceflight components
![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/dlr-3d-printing-combustion-chamber-rocket-engine-bg.jpg)
Webb Telescope unmasks Ring Nebula's cosmic dance
![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/webb-ring-nebula-messier-57-bg.jpg)
MSU scientists help discover the highest-energy light coming from the sun
![](/plugins/content/jlexcomment/assets/icon.png)
![](https://www.spxdaily.com/images-bg/hawc-high-altitude-water-cherenkov-gamma-ray-observatory-bg.jpg)