The first 3D printed object ever to be manufactured in space has been completed on the International Space Station.
The achievement is being hailed by NASA as an initial step towards providing an on-demand machine shop capability away from Earth.
The printer was installed nine days ago on board the orbiting laboratory and it was then tested.
Two days ago, the printer was sent commands from Earth to print a replacement part for itself.
The printer heats a low temperature plastic filament and layers it to build up the object it is printing.
Initial analysis of the part suggest the bonding between the layers is different in microgravity.
The aim of the demonstration process is to see whether 3D printers can be used to make parts and tools in space.
