![](\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/var\/esa\/storage\/images\/esa_multimedia\/images\/2015\/11\/3d-printed_part_shown_at_tedxesa\/15683875-3-eng-GB\/3D-printed_part_shown_at_TEDxESA_small.jpg\")
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\nWhat might almost be an alien lifeform being shown by ESA materials specialist Tommaso Ghidini during his TEDxESA talk on 3D printing for space.\n<\/p>\n
\nIn fact, what he termed a \u2018bionic\u2019 part is an example of a 3D-printed bracket for a satellite, designed in a new way.\n<\/p>\n
\nAs Tommaso explained, 3D printing means that much more complex shapes are possible, compared to standard manufacturing.\n<\/p>\n
\nSoftware allows designers \u201cto put material where the loads are, like Mother Nature does\u201d. The resulting items can be lighter and better-performing, while often weirdly organic in appearance \u2013 because they are following design rules similar to biological evolution.\n<\/p>\n
\nTommaso spoke about the various ways ESA is researching 3D printing for space, including the idea of one day printing a Moon base<\/a>. A 1.5 tonne block produced from simulated lunar soil was unveiled on stage.\n<\/p>\n \nIdeas worth spreading, from the technical heart of Europe\u2019s space sector \u2013 11 November marked ESA\u2019s first TEDx event<\/a>, combining the worlds of technology, business and art.\n<\/p>\n \nFor those who missed it, follow the @TEDxESA Twitter feed, as the speaker videos are made public in the weeks and months ahead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \nWhat might almost be an alien lifeform being shown by ESA materials specialist Tommaso Ghidini during his TEDxESA talk on 3D printing for space.\n<\/p>\n \nIn fact, what he termed a ‘bionic’ part is an example of a 3D-printed bracket for a satellite, designed in a new way.\n<\/p>\n \nAs Tommaso explained, 3D printing means that much more complex shapes are possible, compared to standard manufacturing.\n<\/p>\n \nSoftware allows designers “to put material where the loads are, like Mother Nature does”. The resulting items can be lighter and better-performing, while often weirdly organic in appearance – because they are following design rules similar to biological evolution.\n<\/p>\n \nTommaso spoke about the various ways ESA is researching 3D printing for space, including the idea of one day printing a Moon base<\/a>. A 1.5 tonne block produced from simulated lunar soil was unveiled on stage.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n