3-D-Printed Rocket Engine Injector Passes NASA Testing

by Lurker Fri Jul 19, 2013 1:05 am

A 3-D-printed rocket engine injector has passed a major NASA test, potentially heralding a new age of propulsion-system manufacturing, space agency officials say.

NASA and Florida-based company Aerojet Rocketdyne put the injector — which was built using 3-D printing (also called "additive manufacturing") technology — through a series of hot-fire trials, agency officials announced last week.

"Hot-fire-testing the injector as part of a rocket engine is a significant accomplishment in maturing additive manufacturing for use in rocket engines," Carol Tolbert, manager of the Manufacturing Innovation Project at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, where the tests were conducted, said in a statement.

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/3-d-printed-rocket-part-passes-major-nasa-test-6C10674019

by Ben Reilly Sun Jul 21, 2013 4:31 pm

Fascinating! This may be the "Information Age" but it's also the age of putting what used to be extremely expensive and specialized technology into the hands of the public.

3-D-Printed Rocket Engine Injector Passes NASA Testing

3-D-Printed Rocket Engine Injector Passes NASA Testing

Re: 3-D-Printed Rocket Engine Injector Passes NASA Testing