3D printed rocket engine, up, up and away!!!....

[max]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-26/ne...ce/8561958

[ztirffritz]

I believe that SpaceX has already done that...3 years ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperDraco

I guess, to be fair, the SpaceX engine hasn't been used yet, but it's thoroughly tested.

[Paul F.]

Nice! I missed this, but I've been reading snippets about Rocket Lab for a while... didn't know they were getting that close.

Their use of a high percentage of composites is really interesting, and if they bring the price down - could be another great competitor in the "New Space" arena.

Hope their next launch is more successful!

[Paul F.]

ztirffritz wrote:
I believe that SpaceX has already done that...3 years ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperDraco

I guess, to be fair, the SpaceX engine hasn't been used yet, but it's thoroughly tested.

Large parts of the Merlin engines are 3D printed too... but Rocket Lab is aiming for a much LARGER percentage of a much larger engine than the SuperDraco.

I wish them the best! More competition is good!

[Racer X]

You all missed the part that the fuel pumps were battery powered, and not hydrazine gas generator powered. That is a HUGE difference.

[Paul F.]

Racer X wrote:
You all missed the part that the fuel pumps were battery powered, and not hydrazine gas generator powered. That is a HUGE difference.

Very huge!

[Carnos Jax]

Wow Racer....that IS interesting. I've only known propellant pumps to be powered by a gas turbine driven by the combustion products of a chemical reaction (some of the propellant supply is drawn off for this purpose).

I remember the person mps for the Saturn V moon rocket's huge F1 engines being powered by a 50,000 horsepower turbine.

[Racer X]

I was the corporate in-house photographer with the biggest thruster manufacturer in the US. stationkeeping and attitude adjustment, the Mars probes, Beagle 2, stuff like that. Lots of random stuff on the shuttles as well. Anyway, I go drinking every week with 2 of the best aerospace engineers on the west coast every Thirstday. Known them since HS.