To sustain operations in space, you have to be able to build in space. That’s the idea behind one of the first ever university courses focused on In-Space Manufacturing — hosted by the Cradle of Astronauts, Purdue University.

When NASA’s Artemis II crew successfully slingshotted around the Moon in April 2026, it marked the first time in more than 50 years that humans made such a journey.

But human spaceflight is about more than just rockets and technology. It's about card games. And coping with frozen toilets. And living with others in a tiny capsule for two weeks, having your actions and conversations broadcast live to the world. The person responsible for that side of the experience is NASA's Chief of the Astronaut Office, Purdue graduate Scott Tingle.

3D printing has revolutionized manufacturing, with its ability to design and build unprecedented customizable geometries. But not all materials are suitable for 3D printing — including the aluminum alloy 7075 (AA7075) often used in aerospace because of its high strength-to-weight ratio. For the first time, researchers have successfully demonstrated liquid metal jet printing with AA7075, producing finished pieces that are stronger and lighter than those created with traditional methods.

Six students from Purdue University's School of Mechanical Engineering have been selected for the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP). The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.

The lithium-ion batteries in our cars, homes, and devices have a secret: the tiny electrochemical reactions creating their power can sometimes produce unwanted gaseous byproducts. Purdue University researchers have devised a method to measure minute amounts of these gases using infrared lasers, helping to improve the durability and performance of future battery designs.

The Purdue Beta chapter of Pi Tau Sigma, the mechanical engineering honors society, hosted the organization’s annual national convention this April, welcoming 122 attendees from 39 chapters across the country.

The three-day event featured networking opportunities, breakout sessions, lab tours and a technical challenge, bringing together students and professionals from around the world.

You can’t spell “Boilermaker” without “maker!” That Purdue spirit of designing and building things carries on in the new Manufacturing Studio in Indianapolis — a haven for students to machine parts, create prototypes, and supercharge their engineering education.

Aaed Musa was like any other mechanical engineering student at Purdue University, using 3D printers to build projects... except his projects were robot dogs, CD slingshooters, infinitely spinning tops, and most importantly, a YouTube audience of millions.

Teams of Purdue mechanical engineering students have developed novel prototype projects involving resin printers, jump ropes, and organ donation. The teams competed for the Malott Innovation Awards, given to the best senior design project of the spring 2026 semester.

Something new is launching in Indianapolis — literally! Purdue Space Program, the student group who have been launching rockets in West Lafayette for more than 25 years, have established a chapter in Indianapolis. It took many “small steps” for these intrepid urban rocketeers to reach their “giant leap.”