3D printed spacecraft parts
2024 NASA Grants Feature Top 3D Printing Tech
NASA has again proven its commitment to innovation by awarding nearly 250 small business teams funding to develop cutting-edge technologies. This year’s Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and…
ISRO Successfully Tests 3D-Printed Liquid Rocket Engine for 665 Seconds
On May 9, 2024, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully conducted a long-duration hot test of a 3D printed liquid rocket engine. The tested engine, known as PS4, is…
BLT’s 3D Printing Tech Fuels China’s Gravity-1 Rocket Launch
As China continues to advance its position in the global space race, the successful deployment of the Gravity-1 rocket by Chinese startup Orienspace last January marks a significant milestone. Launched…
Orbex Lands £16.7M to Advance UK Space Ambitions with 3D Printed Rocket
As UK spacecraft manufacturer Orbex navigates the complexities of rocket development, a new £16.7 million ($20.7 million) investment could provide a crucial boost. This latest funding round reinvigorates the company’s…
Starship Lifts Off, Explodes Before Stage Separation
After a failed first attempt, SpaceX‘s massive Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket lifted off from the company’s flight test facility in Boca Chica, Texas at 8:37 am CDT on…
Virgin Orbit Closes Up Shop
With so many innovations in 3D printed space hardware, it’s sad to witness the demise of Virgin Orbit (NASDAQ: VORB). At its peak, the brand was valued at $3.7 billion….
‘Leaked’ Elon Musk Email Raises Specter of Raptor Production Issues, SpaceX Bankruptcy
Is SpaceX going to Mars? Will the Raptor engines help launch the Starship super-heavy rocket any time soon? Will SpaceX go bankrupt? These and many more questions have been raised…
Implementing Additive Advantages: Why 3D Printing Fails
If we carefully look at the successful 3D printing applications, we can see some commonalities. We can also see relatively few clusters where we have been wildly successful. If we…
$300M Satellite Manufacturing Facility in Florida to Leverage 3D Printing
Small satellite provider Terran Orbital, known for collaborating with NASA and commercial space companies on orbital and lunar spacecraft, will spend $300 million in Florida to construct a 660,000 square…
Maxar and Zenith Tecnica 3D Printed 260 Titanium Parts for Satellites
Space technology pioneer Maxar has been using additively manufactured parts in orbit since 2016. Since then, the company has launched more than 20 spacecraft with 3D printed parts made from…
NASA Funds 3D Printing Projects for Upcoming Era of Space Exploration
Driven by Moon exploration, space tourism, spacecraft manufacturing, and orbital infrastructure, space agencies and private companies worldwide have developed ambitious plans for the future of spaceflight. This heightened interest in…
Interview with Lockheed: “Orion Spacecraft Has 200 3D Printed Components”
In 2006, NASA selected Lockheed Martin to design, develop, and build Orion, set to embark on both manned and unmanned missions, it is the agency’s newest deep space exploration spaceship…
