Airbus

The first shape created with the 3D Metal Printer

Astronomy

First-ever 3D metal printing in space achieved on ISS

In an experiment that sounds about as safe as bobbing for fries, ESA carried out the first-ever 3D metal printing in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Built with Airbus, the Metal 3D Printer completed the first of four test shapes.

Atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft blasts off from Cape Canaveral, bound for the ISS and carrying cargo that includes two space firsts

Astronomy

Space firsts: Metal 3D printer & surgical robot on their way to the ISS

Among the cargo that just blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, bound for the ISS were two firsts: the world’s first metal 3D printer designed especially for use in orbit and the first miniaturized surgical robot to be sent to the station.

Illustration of the number of objects orbiting the Earth

Astronomy

Tiny Airbus device keeps defunct satellites from tumbling

To help combat the growing problem of space debris, a CubeSat launched by EnduroSat on November 11, 2023 called Exo-0 includes a 100-g (3.5-oz) device developed by Airbus that uses the Earth's magnetic field to prevent dead satellites from tumbling.

Computer render of space habitat interior

Astronomy

New space habitat from Airbus looks sci-fi slick

While astronauts' space capsules look great in sci-fi films, the reality can be quite different. Now, Airbus' new space habitation called the Loop could merge the design of Hollywood with more practical space-based needs.

One of the tasks CIMON will assist with during its time aboard the ISS will be to help solve a Rubik's cube

Astronomy

Flying brain is heading to the ISS to help out astronauts

The International Space Station (ISS) is about to get a strange new crew member. The Crew Interactive Mobile Companion – or CIMON for short – is described by Airbus as a kind of flying brain, and will assist with experiments during the upcoming Horizons mission.

The deployment was part of a series of dynamic tests of the Orion ESM solar panels

Astronomy

Orion's solar panels readied for Moon mission

The European Service Module of the Orion crewed spacecraft has passed a key milestone, with a model of the ESM's solar array performing "flawlessly" in a deployment test this week.

Airbus Military's A400M in the skies above Seville, Spain on its maiden flight

Body and Mind

Airbus A400M makes maiden flight

After many delays Airbus Military’s all-new A400M four-engine turboprop military transport, designed as a replacement for the C-130 Hercules and Transall C-160, has taken to the air for the first time in the skies above Seville, Spain.