While the recent fall from orbit of China’s Tiangong 1 space station seemingly monopolized the attention of many in the aerospace community, another event this week offers much more insight into space exploration. In contrast to most of the Tiangong burning up upon re-entry into earth’s atmosphere and the remaining pieces crashing unceremoniously into the South Pacific, a less heralded SpaceX rocket will carry a vital piece of equipment to the International Space Station this week.
Within its payload, the Falcon 9 rocket launching from Cape Canaveral will carry two new printers for the ISS – the first new machines seen by the station in 17 years. The HP Envy ISS is not your everyday desktop printer. The new machine provides unique paper and waste ink management systems that can be used in zero gravity. Additionally, it’s fireproof and can work from several different positions to help make the most of limited workspace.
The unit borrows technology from both traditional inkjet printers and their more complex 3D printing cousins. The space station reportedly goes through about two reams of paper per month with print jobs that range from research findings and mission reports to personal letters and photographs.
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