The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Belgian national trainee Stefan Siarov investigates the impact of recycling 3D-printed thermoplastics to determine how this technique could be used in in-space manufacturing.
The ability to recycle and reuse high value plastics that retain their strength and chemical resistance even at very high temperatures could help reduce energy usage and costs while increasing our independence from Earth.
Based at ESA's Astronaut Centre as part of the Spaceship EAC initiative, Stefan worked with material science colleagues at ESA's technical heart in The Netherlands, ESTEC, to undertake this study.