Space Manufacturing

A giant leap for knee health 3D-printed Knee Cartilage manufactured in Space.

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The significance of this achievement cannot be overstated. “This is a groundbreaking milestone with significant implications for human health,” declared John Vellinger, Executive Vice President of Redwire. This breakthrough holds the potential to revolutionize knee treatments, which are in high demand, particularly among aging seniors and military personnel.

The 3D-printed knee meniscus has already undergone analysis on Earth. It was brought back to our planet by the SpaceX Crew-6 astronauts during their splashdown on September 4th. The insights gained from this groundbreaking experiment are expected to pave the way for innovative knee therapies. Manufacturing items in space offers distinct advantages that are often unattainable on Earth. One of the most significant benefits is the absence of gravity-related distortions. In microgravity conditions, objects are not subjected to the warping effects of Earth’s gravitational pull, allowing for precise fabrication of complex structures.

Redwire has been at the forefront of space-based research and manufacturing, currently operating ten research facilities on the ISS. Excitingly, there’s more to come. In November, Redwire is set to launch several pharmaceutical payloads aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo mission named CRS-29. Among these payloads is an experiment aimed at bioprinting cardiac tissue, pushing the boundaries of medical innovation even further. The success of this endeavor was made possible by an upgrade to Redwire’s 3D BioFabrication Facility in January. This upgrade enhanced the facility’s temperature control capabilities, particularly vital when working with bioinks sensitive to temperature variations. These improvements ensured the precision and success of the 3D-printed knee meniscus aboard the ISS.

As we witness this remarkable achievement in space-based healthcare innovation, we anticipate a brighter future for knee treatments. The fusion of cutting-edge technology and the unique environment of space is offering new hope to countless individuals suffering from knee-related ailments.

By Elizabeth Howell. published .

This blog post contains information from a statement by Redwire Corp. and NASA about the successful manufacturing of 3D-printed knee meniscus on the International Space Station. Astronauts just 3D-printed knee cartilage in space for the 1st time and it’s as weird as it sounds.

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