NASA’s Antimicrobial Space Challenge invites students to 3D print off-earth medical devices and space tools

#News(General) [ via IoTGroup ]

The Antimicrobial Space Challenge is holding an Invent-a-thon to create off-earth 3D printed medical devices and tools.
From October 21st – 25th, high school teams will gather at the University of Nebraska, to resolve the microbial risks in manned space habitations using Copper3D’s antimicrobial filament PLACTIVE.
As space facilities nurture dangerous bacteria and weaken astronauts’ immune system, these antimicrobial tools are essential in keeping the habitats clean and safe.
The co-organizing bodies include NASA Nebraska Space Grant, Copper3D, 3D LifePrints and the University of Nebraska Biomechanics Center.
Anti-Microbial Space Challenge
Promoting the application of 3D printing, the Antimicrobial Space Challenge seeks two categories of products: medical devices (e.g. finger splints, catheters) and space tools (e.g. pistol-grips, harness fixings).
All submissions will be scored based on the following four criteria: Innovativeness / Uniqueness, Appropriateness for use in space, Design quality and 3D Printability (Quality, time, amount of material).
“I truly believe that in order for mankind to become an interplanetary species we have to use technological advances such as [Copper3D’s antimicrobial filament] to ensure we are healthy enough to withstand the harsh challenges that space exploration brings,”
Microbial risks in manned space habitations
While manned habitations such as the International Space Station (ISS) have been in existence for over 20 years, deep space exploration missions and space colonization still proves challenging.
3D printing antimicrobial materials
The use of 3D printing technologies is becoming more and more crucial for space exploration.
To deliver reliable service for bandwidth-intensive applications that power the space economy, SpaceX has launched the 3D printed satellite Telstar 19 VANTAGE last year.
Copper 3D, a 3D printing materials company, decided to tackle the microbial risks.

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