NASA is getting closer to taking 3D printing to the final frontier. Along with manufacturer Made in Space, the space agency has been developing a zero-gravity printing model for the International Space Station. The finished product could produce its first part as early as next year. The 3D Print Experiment performed well during microgravity flight tests this summer, but one last battery of tests remains. The printer must go through vibration, environmental, and vacuum trials to make sure it can withstand fluctuating pressure levels. If all goes as planned, the ISS should get its first 3D printer in the fall of 2014.

The shoebox-size device is enclosed in metal with a glass window, giving astronauts a look into the printing process.