What does metal made in space look like up close? 🤘 Thanks to our first metal 3D printer aboard the @iss, we’re finding out. This pioneering device melted stainless steel in microgravity to build a complete test sample - layer by layer - before sending it back to Earth for analysis. Now, our engineers are examining every ridge, pore and flaws to understand how printing behaves beyond our planet. Why does this matter? Because future astronauts will need to make tools, replacement parts and maybe even spacecraft structures on demand, without waiting for resupply from Earth. It’s a small piece of metal… but a giant leap for in-orbit manufacturing. 📹 @europeanspaceagency 🎞️ @airbus_space; ESA/@NASA; ESA/NASA - @astro_andreas; NASA; ESA; ESA-@sarahjanemuirheadphotography 📸 ESA/NASA