Finding resources far from Earth is a well-known spaceflight limitation, but metal-harvesting microbes provide a method for tapping outer space’s mineral wealth.

A fungus aboard the ISS extracted palladium from meteorite rock, hinting at future space mining powered by living microbes.

Navigating the extreme cold of deep space or handling super-chilled liquid fuels here on Earth requires materials that won't break. Most metals become brittle and fracture at such low temperatures.

Using over 18 years of data from ESA's Cluster mission, scientists have mapped the heavy metals in the space surrounding Earth, finding an unexpected distribution and prevalence of iron and shedding ...

A small metal object, manufactured outside Earth, is now in the hands of scientists at the European Space Agency (ESA). Produced aboard the International Space Station (ISS) using a metal 3D printer ...

Researching 3D printing in space is something on the agenda of space agencies for a while now. As space exploration tends to shift to a more self-sustaining approach when it comes to missions beyond ...

The "Metal3D" project began in 2016 when the European Space Agency awarded the contract to Airbus Defence & Space. A key objective: To create the first metal 3D printer to safely operate under ...

On December 30, a mysterious 1,100-pound object in the shape of a massive, 8-f00t metal ring was discovered in a remote Kenyan village, prompting widespread speculation it had fallen from space. As ...

The nuts and bolts left over from Ariane 5 rockets are being used to slice through European space history, literally. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.