Redwire, Microsoft partner to 3D print a Zune replica in space
Part of a massive campaign to promote the new Guardians of the Galaxy movie along with inclusion and STEM education
Sure, it’s mainly a big, multi-strategy marketing campaign to promote high-profile products along with STEM education and inclusion but there’s no arguing that the latest effort involving Microsoft, Zune, NASA, the International Space Station, Redwire and Guardians of the Galaxy is about as good and interesting as it gets.
The companies worked together with Redwire to 3D print a replica of the Zune music player, in zero-G, using Redwire’s AMF facility aboard the ISS. The device is of course just a non-functional model but the entire point of the campaign is to show how the BFF system works and how it can manufacture tools (even functional ones) and replacement parts to enable humanity’s expansion into space.
In the video, hosted by Redwire’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications Austin Jordan, Redwire and Microsoft teams use our Additive Manufacturing Facility on the ISS to manufacture the music player 3D printed replica, much like Star-Lord’s personal Zune featured in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The video also offers a great glimpse behind the curtains of Redwire’s control room on Earth and the challenges of remote zero-G 3D printing.
Microsoft, Redwire, the International Space Station National Laboratory, and NASA embrace diversity and want to reinforce an inclusive culture to help achieve our goals in space-based exploration, on Earth, the galaxy and beyond. In Marvel Studios “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” the Guardians are made up of individuals from different backgrounds, species, and planets, each with a unique set of skills and perspectives. It’s precisely this diversity that enables them to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges and save the galaxy.
The companies also came together to create the Azure Space: Diversity in Stem challenge to encourage underrepresented groups to pursue careers in space-related fields and provide them with resources to help ignite their passion. The challenge invites teachers and students to explore a variety of space activities that will empower them to learn new skills and understand more about what takes place in space and how you can be part of it: learn to code, understand how 3D printing is paving the way for future space exploration and more.
