Aerojet Rocketdyne has agreed to design and produce a rocket engine assembly for NASA through additive manufacturing approaches as part of a Space Act Agreement with the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
The company said Tuesday it plans to use 3D solid state and laser deposition systems in efforts to fabricate complex parts for a lightweight engine thrust chamber.
NASA™s space technology mission directorate will facilitate the effort under the Announcement of Collaborative Opportunity initiative aimed at integrating emerging commercial technology into space missions.
Eileen Drake, CEO and president of Aerojet Rocketdyne, said the company looks to apply advanced materials manufacturing methods to provide the agency a transportation system in space.
The partnership aims integrate robotic techniques to produce an engine design for use in propulsion systems intended to power a lunar lander or a launch vehicle booster.
