First, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk inspired Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of Iron Man. Now, the futuristic design interfaces depicted in the movie trilogy have inspired Musk to create 3D immersive reality visualizations for designing and printing rocket parts on the fly. We've come full circle, people. Reality and fiction are colliding and the outcome is incredible.


Last week, Musk tweeted that SpaceX had "figured out how to design rocket parts just w hand movements through the air (seriously)," and that he would soon "post video of designing a rocket part with hand gestures & immediately printing in titanium.” Here, as promised, is said video:





Sez Musk:

I believe we’re on the verge of a major breakthrough in design and manufacturing, in being able to take a concept of something from your mind and translate into a 3-D object intuitively on the computer, then make that virtual 3-D object real just by printing it. It’s going to revolutionize manufacturing and design in the 21st century.


You guys, it is now possible to create rocket chambers with hand motions and 3D metal printers. Still not sure if we're living in the Space Age? Please.

[Spotted on VentureBeat]