The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
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Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Funded by the Italian space agency ASI, the POP3D (Portable On-Board Printer) for 3D printing reached orbit in 2015. The compact, cube-shaped printer measures 25 cm per side and weighs 5.5 kg in Earth gravity. It prints in biodegradable and harmless PLA plastic, using a heat-based process called ‘fused filament fabrication’. POP3D typically takes about half an hour to produce a single plastic part, which was subsequently returned to the ground for detailed testing, including comparison to an otherwise identical part printed on the ground. The Italian Institute of Technology assisted with post-flight examinations.