With our extensive history in additive manufacturing, UTEP is a key collaborator in this NASA-led initiative, according to Dr. Eric MacDonald, assistant dean of the UTEP College of Engineering and professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering. Our NASA collaborators were persuaded to pursue this potentially game-changing study because of UTEP’s reputation in 3D printing, material science, and our cutting-edge facilities.This grant is a portion of a $2.5 million one from NASA to explore ways to exploit resources from other planets so that future astronauts won’t always need to return to Earth for supplies. This will not only assist in building the infrastructure required for such crewed trips, but it will also lower the cost and weight of delivering supplies from Earth.