No, 3-D Printing Will Not Save You

摘要

A recent Reuters article has the lay press reporting that new innovations such as 3-D additive manufacturing (or 3-D printing) and the use of simulation "avatars" could significantly reduce the cost of government space systems. The article goes on to point out that the latest version of one defense satellite cost around $1 billion per copy - a number far above the historical norm for complex government satellites, even considering inflation. While such reports make for good fluff reading and "Oh, isn't this cool?" discussions in college freshman engineering dorm rooms, they do not address the structural cost problems that continue to bedevil the space industry. In fact it is questionable whether 3-D printing can significantly reduce the cost of today's satellites.