Monica Jackson
Aerojet Rocketdyne has completed hot-fire tests of a RL10 engine thrust chamber assembly that was built using three-dimensional printing technology.
The company said Wednesday the latest test series follows an initial demonstration of a 3D-printed copper alloy thrust chamber and nickel alloy main injector last year.
Eileen Drake, president and CEO of Aerojet Rocketdyne, said hot-fire tests under the company’s RL10C-X development program seek to demonstrate components built with additive manufacturing techniques used to produce engine systems.
Evaluation of the thrust chamber took place at a company facility in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Aerojet Rocketdyne expects the use of 3D printing methods to help accelerate the production timeline for the RL10 engine technology by several months.
