Aerojet Rocketdyne and NASA to produce rocket engine thrust chamber using AM

October 12, 2019

News
October 12, 2019

Aerojet Rocketdyne, Sacramento, California, USA, has entered into a Space Act Agreement with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center to design and produce a lightweight rocket engine thrust chamber assembly using Additive Manufacturing. The company states that the aim of the project is to reduce manufacturing costs and create a thrust chamber that is easily scalable to support a variety of missions, including the USA’s return to the Moon and subsequent missions to explore Mars.

Aerojet Rocketdyne will use a combination of Additive Manufacturing technologies, including solid state deposition and laser deposition, to enable the rapid fabrication of complex components. The integration of these robotic AM techniques is expected to produce a scalable design that could be applied to propulsion systems ranging from small systems that would support a lunar lander, to large boosters that enable launch vehicles to escape Earth’s gravity.

The project is being facilitated by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate through its Announcement of Collaborative Opportunity (ACO) initiative, which aims to reduce the development cost of technologies and accelerate the integration of emerging commercial capabilities into space missions.

“As we look to the future of space exploration, efficiency and scalability will be key, which is why we are excited to work with NASA on this innovative thrust chamber for rocket engines,” stated Eileen Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne’s CEO and President. “The technology we develop will leverage the most advanced Additive Manufacturing techniques and materials to help provide efficient and safe transportation to and through space.”

www.rocket.com

www.nasa.gov

News
October 12, 2019

In the latest issue of Metal AM magazine

Download PDF
 

Extensive AM industry news coverage, as well as the following exclusive deep-dive articles:

  • Back to the future: A decade of Additive Manufacturing innovation and growth at Materials Solutions
  • Win or lose: A CEO’s reflections on Artificial Intelligence and Additive Manufacturing
  • AMS 2025 New York: A reality check for the Additive Manufacturing industry
  • Optimising powder removal in PBF-LB Additive Manufacturing: A Digital Twin approach
  • ValCUN’s MMD: A robust, wire-based aluminium AM technology for defence and industrial applications
  • Enhancing quality and reliability in metal Additive Manufacturing: The role of laser calibration

TRUSTED CONTENT. TARGETED AUDIENCE

Advertise with Metal AM and access a global base of 50,000+ AM professionals.

Contact Jon Craxford: [email protected]

  • AM machines
  • Process monitoring & calibration
  • Heat treatment & sintering
  • HIP systems & services
  • Pre- & post-processing technology
  • Powders, powder production and analysis
  • Part manufacturers
  • Consulting, training & market data

Don’t miss a thing – register for our newsletter

Don't miss any new issue of Metal AM magazine, and get the latest industry news. Sign up to our twice weekly newsletter.

Register now

Join 40,000+ other AM professionals – follow us online

About Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine

Metal AM magazine, published quarterly in digital and print formats, is read by a rapidly expanding international audience.

Our audience includes component manufacturers, end-users, materials and equipment suppliers, analysts, researchers and more.

In addition to providing extensive industry news coverage, Metal AM magazine is known for exclusive, in-depth articles and technical reports.

Our focus is the entire metal AM process from design to application.

Each issue is available as an easy-to-navigate digital edition and a high-quality print publication.

Discover our magazine archive…

The free to access Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of metal Additive Manufacturing from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading metal AM part manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

Browse the archive

Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap