With continued refinement in technology, 3D printing has become popular and as a result of advancement in 3D printing, large selection of printers are available these days. The 3D printing ranges from low-price small 3D units for home to the large and more powerful industrial printers.

The technology has developed and atpresent, it is being used in a number of industries such as automotive, food, aerospace, health, construction and several others. The technology's use beyond Earth is definitely something considered very important.

Last year, the American space company SpaceX sent a Dragon capsule to the International Space Station (ISS). It was carrying the first ever zero-G 3D printer. The printer was created by Made In Space and it was constructed under a partnership with NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. It was launched in September 2014.

The requirement of keeping a continuing supply chain from Earth to the space mission is responsible for expensive and slow space development. As a result of 3D printers in space, astronauts are able to manufacture what they require. This was shown by the ISS astronauts when 14 objects were 3D-printed by them together with a wrench. They sent the objects back on Earth for testing.

The technology was developed by Made In Space and is capable of functioning in an environment with micro-gravity that resembles the one on the space station. As per reports, first printer of the company is a prototype that makes use of ABS plastic material and has a comparatively small work envelope, measuring 5cm by 10cm by 5cm.