Additive Talks: How to navigate the challenges of low-cost propulsion systems enabled by AM?
For non-experts in the field, talking about space often comes down to dreaming of the day when space travel will be as easy and accessible as a trip from Brussels to Berlin. The truth is, due to its vastness – and the variety of space technologies that are being explored every day, space remains unfamiliar to many people. However, one thing is certain, maintaining and widening our gateway to space requires extreme speed to reach orbit and precisely controlled thrust firing – all of which can be obtained with the right propulsion technology.
Here is the thing, there are a wide range of propulsion systems – each of them serving different applications and purposes. When we look at satellites for instance, we came to realize that their builders are often left with limited choices: expensive (a “usual” satellite costs about 300 million dollars!!), toxic chemical propulsion or slow, power-hungry electric systems.
Given the growing adoption of Additive Manufacturing across the space industry, one question we can legitimate ask ourselves is: can Additive Manufacturing do something about that?
The next Additive Talks session ambitions to explore and discuss this topic. Entitled “How to navigate the challenges of low-cost propulsion systems enabled by AM?”, the session will be held on Thursday 20th April, from 03.30 pm to 04.30 pm CET.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. The agency has been using advanced manufacturing technologies including AM for a few years now. Through the Propulsion, Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Engineering division, Mansouri’s team supports projects and definition/execution of technology programmes in the areas of chemical propulsion, electric propulsion, advanced new propulsion systems, external and internal aerothermodynamics of relevance to propulsion systems, ascent, cruise and re-entry of space vehicles through the Earth's or planetary atmospheres. They also manage the Architecture and technology assessment of new space transportation vehicles for Earth orbit, the development of components for propulsion systems (valves, regulators, tanks, GSE, etc.) as well as the Development of propulsion and aerothermodynamics simulation tools.
After a long academic career, he set-up MIPRONS in 2019, which now counts on a team of +20 people. The project has received expressions of interest in Italy and abroad; in fact, a co-development agreement has been signed in 2022 with Thales Alenia Space Italia to take the system to TRL=7 by Q3-2024. From the early beginning, wide use of 3D printing has characterized the design of of the propulsion system; many components, with different materials, are manufactured adopting this technology.
Oerlikon is on a mission to help companies integrate and scale the entire Additive Manufacturing value chain. By offering materials and surface technologies, design, production and testing of industrial metal-based components, Oerlikon AM and its global service network across the entire Oerlikon group is uniquely positioned to advance the industrialization of Additive Manufacturing.
Oerlikon is a global innovation powerhouse for surface engineering, polymer processing and additive manufacturing. The Group’s solutions and comprehensive services, together with its advanced materials, improve and maximize the performance, function, design and sustainability of its customers’ products and manufacturing processes in key industries. Pioneering technology for decades, everything Oerlikon invents and does is guided by its passion to support customers’ goals and foster a sustainable world. Headquartered in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, the Group operates its business in two Divisions – Surface Solutions and Polymer Processing Solutions. It has a global footprint of more than 12 000 employees at 202 locations in 37 countries and generated sales of CHF 2.65 billion in 2021.
