Artemis II Launches With 3D Printing Onboard, and a Much Bigger Role Ahead

• A new chapter in human spaceflight began today as NASA launched Artemis II from Kennedy Space Center, sending astronauts on a journey around the Moon for the first time in...

A new chapter in human spaceflight began today as NASA launched Artemis II from Kennedy Space Center, sending astronauts on a journey around the Moon for the first time in more than five decades. The mission is a major milestone. It marks the first crewed flight of NASA’s Artemis program and a critical step toward returning humans to the lunar surface. But beyond the main story, Artemis II highlights how 3D printing is already part of how these missions are built. And in the years ahead, it may become essential to know how they are sustained. Understanding Artemis II and 3D Printing’s Role in It Artemis II is not a landing mission. Instead, it is a full systems test with astronauts on board. Much like Apollo 8, the crew will travel around the Moon and return to Earth, validating the spa