The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) engineers are all set to launch first ever 3D printer in space. The printer, specially designed to use on the International Space Station (ISS), will be sent to the space station with SpaceX Dragon capsule later this month. Scientists will test its ability to manufacture items in zero gravity. The project is titled "3D Printing in Zero-G."

If the printer works well in space, astronauts will be able to build their own plastic gewgaws.

Made in Space, a California-based company, and NASA have made the 3D printer. It's the size of a small microwave, which was tested at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, last spring. After the test, scientists have found that the printer can be cleared for takeoff.

With extrusion additive manufacturing, the 3D printer builds objects made from materials like plastic, metal, and composites in a method that works layer by layer.

Scientists are hoping to replace current supplies' mission with this printer. According to them, if the printer performs as well in space as it does on Earth, then astronauts onboard would not wait for new supplies and would be able to produce equipment parts in the event existing ones break in space. It will take between 15 minutes and an hour to build a tool through 3D printing. Apart from that, scientists could even upload blueprints to the device from Earth.

Manager of 3D Printing in Zero-G, Niki Werkheiser, said the printer has the ability to construct items on demand that could modernize the current supply missions.

Werkheiser said, "This means we could go from having a part designed on the ground to print in orbit within an hour or two from start to finish". The printer will be launched on Dragon capsule on September 19.