3D-Printed Rocket Engine Part Passes Key NASA Test

[The Straight Story]

3D-Printed Rocket Engine Part Passes Key NASA Test


A 3D-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 3D printing (also called "additive manufacturing&quot 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. [10 Amazing 3D-Printed Objects]

"These successful tests let us know that we are ready to move on to demonstrate the feasibility of developing full-size, additively manufactured parts," Tolbert added.

http://news.yahoo.com/3d-printed-rocket-engine-part-passes-key-nasa-114403773.html

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. Because the space shuttle was so complex, and some parts were so hard to manufacture, they

had a full time blacksmith on board, who could form and forge certain parts that no manufacturing system could.

A blacksmith - applying the oldest tech to the newest.

I guess with 3D printing, that won't be an issue again.