© РИА Томск. Павел Стефанский
TOMSK,
May 17 – RIA Tomsk, Karina Sapunova. The 3D-printer developed by Tomsk
scientists for the printing in imponderability will allow to manufacture not
only tools, but also consumables – for example, often lost lids from electrical
connectors which transported into orbit from Earth now, the adviser to the
president of RSC Energia Alexander Chernyavsky told journalists on Wednesday.
Earlier
it was reported that scientists of Tomsk Polytechnic University and the
Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science of the SB RAS create a
3D-printer for work on space ships and in outer space. It is assumed that the
experimental device should be delivered to the International Space Station
(ISS) in 2018. While polymers are used as the material for printing, but in the
future it is planned to use other materials, including reinforced ones.
"There
is an infinite number of electrical connectors on the ISS. And all of them,
when nothing is connected, must be closed – and there put lids. These lids -
are small, plastic, with different diameters – just fly away: behind the ISS
panels, into the ventilation. To replace them, not to drag spare ones, we
suggest to print there", – said Chernyavsky.
He
clarified that the idea of printing such consumables was offered by cosmonaut
Alexander Kaleri, who repeatedly participated in expeditions on the ISS.
"They should know better on board", – the representative of the RSC
explained.
He added
that, as previously planned, they would also print tools using the 3D-printer.
It was
also reported that the delegation of RSC Energia is working in Tomsk within the
framework of the IV Forum of Young Scientists U-NOVUS, which started on
Wednesday and will last until May 19.