With the RDRE, NASA Has Demonstrated That Engines Made With AM Are Suitable for Deep Space Missions

We are still barely into 2023, but already the year has shown to be a promising one for additive manufacturing in space. Earlier this week we told you about the ESA which has included 3D printed parts on a rover touching down on the Moon in April, and now NASA has also made an announcement. The organization has successfully developed and tested the first full-scale rotating detonation rocket engine, or RDRE, which it claims could significantly change how future propulsion systems are built. Not only that, but the rocket was made using 3D printing, proving that hardware made using AM can operate for long durations while withstanding extreme heat and environments, showing its suitability for deep space missions.

More than 50 years since man first walked on the Moon and we have continued to try and reach new heights. Notably, organizations like NASA and the ESA as well as private companies have turned their eyes to exploring space and other planetary bodies. Now with this test of the RDRE, we are not only closer than ever to this goal, but have definitive proof that additive manufacturing will play a major role in this next chapter in space exploration.

The full test of the RDRE at Marshall Space Flight Center (photo credits: NASA)

A Closer Look at the RDRE

The RDRE is exceptional for a number of reasons. Notably, it has an advanced rocket engine design which differs from more traditional rocket engines because it generates thrust through a supersonic combustion phenomenon, more commonly known as detonation. This is particularly interesting because while it produces more power, it can use less fuel than traditional engines. This is of course is key for being able to reach deep space destinations such as the Moon or even Mars.