Orbex, a private low-cost orbital launch service company based in the UK, is manufacturing a commercial orbital launch vehicle called Prime. This clever combination of carbon fiber and aluminum alloy composite material can achieve a 30% weight reduction compared to rockets of the same size.
Orbex has developed a series of ambitious plans for the next few years, including the launch of small satellites from a spaceport that has not yet been completed, and a special launch mission for new customer TriSept in 2022. The mission plan will carry multiple different payloads. Small satellite. The Orbex Prime rocket is the key to realizing these plans.
Orbex installed a high-speed carbon fiber winding machine at its Scottish headquarters. This 18-meter long machine can automatically complete the rapid weaving of complex mixed materials and manufacture the main structure of the rocket. At the same time, a full-size autoclave was also installed to manufacture large rocket parts such as first-class fuel tanks. These parts have been prepared for the extreme environment in space and can withstand huge pressures up to 500 times atmospheric pressure.
Due to the use of advanced carbon fiber-reinforced aluminum-based composite materials, each Orbex Prime rocket weighs only 1.5 tons, will be 30% lighter than rockets of the same size, and can increase its speed from 0 to 1330km / h in 60 seconds.
The Orbex Prime rocket engine is manufactured in one piece using 3D printing technology, eliminating the risk of defects due to connections. The rocket selects biopropane as the fuel. Compared with kerosene-based rocket fuel, the biofuel can achieve clean combustion and can reduce carbon emissions by 90%. Orbex claims that the rocket can be reused without leaving orbital debris.
Orbex CEO Chris Larmour said: "We are manufacturing rockets like never before. Spending hundreds of millions of dollars on the robot assembly line or hiring thousands of employees to produce heavy metal rockets is an outdated method. Building a modern space business It means the 'update manufacturing' spirit to make it faster, more agile and more flexible. This is what we do at Orbex. "