As Space X makes history, these aerospace companies are laying the foundation for human commercial space travel. In space, weight is more important than anything, and the demand for lightweight and high-performance spacecraft parts is increasing. So 3D printing technology is commonly introduced to manufacture spacecraft, let's take a look at which aerospace companies have adopted 3D printing technology.
Space X
SpaceX is another masterpiece of founder Elon Musk. Another company it founded is also a household name-Tesla. Space X has repeatedly achieved impossible goals, first of all, rocket recovery and reuse, and then it is the first private company to send humans into space. In terms of 3D printing applications, SpaceX was one of the first companies to provide additive manufacturing of rocket engines (SuperDraco engines for rocket escape pods). It demonstrates the advantages of metal 3D printing, and has sufficient reliability and advanced to manufacture high-performance spacecraft parts.
Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab makes full use of 3D printing technology in rocket manufacturing and has been developing Electron spacecraft since 2013. The nine Rutherford engines in the first stage of the rocket are the industry’s first liquid-oxygen kerosene turbocharged engines with all major components manufactured using 3D printing. In July 2019, Rocket Lab produced the 100th Rutherford rocket engine, of which 70 have been launched into space in various space missions.
Rocket Lab Rocket
Relativity
Relativity used the self-developed giant robot directional energy deposition system to 3D print the entire rocket in a unique way. The company raised an incredible $140 million to build rockets. They integrate machine learning, software and robotics with metal 3D printing technology and are working hard to produce the first Terran 1 3D printed rocket.
Relativity's giant rocket 3D printer
Launcher
Launcher uses 3D printing technology to manufacture rockets for satellite launches. With the support of the EOS AMCM expert group, the world's largest single rocket 3D printed part was produced, that is, the 86 cm high copper alloy E-2 rocket engine combustion chamber. The company currently has an agreement with the Stannis Space Center of the Mississippi Space Agency to test the E-2 engine to see if it is suitable for small launch vehicles.
Launcher manufactures the largest single rocket 3D printed parts
Virgin Orbit
We should not be unfamiliar with Virgin Atlantic, and Virgin Orbit is its sister company, specializing in space launch and exploration. Virgin Orbit had tried to modify the 747 aircraft for space launches but was unsuccessful. It used a lot of 3D printing technology to study mixed metal engine combustion chambers. After the spacecraft is launched, the propellant mixes in the combustion chamber and ignites, generating incredible high pressure and high temperature and jetting out to generate a huge thrust, sending the load into space; so this is one of the most difficult research points.
Rocket engine combustor
Blue Origin
This is another aerospace company founded by a big brother, Jeff Bezos of Amazon founded Blue Origin Blue Origin. It has just demonstrated a 3D printed battery pack using Stratasys and Raise 3D polymer technology, and participated in the NASA Artemis program, which aims to restart the exploration of manned moon landings.
Blue Origin is participating in the lunar exploration project
Made In Space
Made In Space is the first company to provide a 3D printer to the International Space Station and actually use it for space tool printing. The company is currently developing the Archinaut One system to carry out 3D printing and robot assembly activities in space.
Space 3D printing and robot assembly
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin was a well-known military aerospace company. It is currently working with NASA to manufacture 3D printed parts for the Orion deep spacecraft. Using PEKK-based thermoplastics and flexible 3D printing technology, they plan to manufacture spacecraft parts with high-performance mechanical, chemical and thermal properties.
The docking hatch of the Orion spacecraft is made by 3D printing
In addition, we are familiar with Airbus and Boeing. The two giants known for their aviation business are also introducing a large number of 3D printing technologies to become the frontier in the aerospace field. We believe that the real cutting-edge application of 3D printing technology is in the aerospace and aerospace fields, especially the stringent requirements for materials and parts in the aerospace industry, constantly challenging the limits that materials science and additive manufacturing can reach, thus leading the rapid development of the entire 3D printing industry.