3D Printed Parts Used in NASA Artemis Rocket

Another giant leap for mankind! NASA’s most powerful rocket in the world, Artemis 1, was launched on November 16. After several postponements due to technical problems and unfavorable weather conditions, the liftoff took place from Florida in the direction of our natural satellite. This mission marks the beginning of the American program, Artemis, which aims to return to the Moon. Its goal: to verify that NASA’s spacecraft, Orion, is capable of safely transporting a crew there.

In order to lift this space capsule, Aerojet Rocketdyne, an American company specialized in rocket engine design, built four RS-25 engines that were installed on the rocket. They were designed to withstand the most extreme temperatures, but also to give the rocket enough power to go around the Moon and then return to Earth. The particularity of these engines is that they have many 3D printed parts.

Photo of Orion, NASA’s spacecraft. (Photo credits: NASA)

3D Metal Printing for the Manufacture of 3D Printed Parts

For the design of the rocket, Aerojet Rocketdyne provided 39 propulsion elements, including 38 liquid engines and 1 solid engine. The American company also prepared 14 high-pressure tanks. For the majority of its components, it used 3D metal printing, specifically laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). This technology has reduced the overall production costs of the engines by 35 percent, according to the manufacturer. After years of delays and billions in overruns, additive manufacturing is proving its worth in terms of expense management.