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DailyDirt: Cheaper Rockets Taking Off

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Rocket science is difficult, but as technology gets better, it looks like more and more people are capable of launching pretty powerful rockets. Private companies are semi-routinely shooting satellites into space, and that capability could be useful for all kinds of applications ranging from scientific exploration… to intercontinental missiles. If hobbyist drones seem like a problem now, wait until more hobbyist rockets are launching into space.

• New Zealand-based Rocket Lab has a partially 3D-printed rocket engine scheduled to launch later this year. Its Electron rocket powered by 9 Rutherford rocket engines can get small satellites into orbit — for just 5million(versusa5 million (versus a 5million(versusa60 million SpaceX rocket or even more expensive competitors). [url]
• NASA has successfully tested several components of a 3D-printed rocket engine, and it’s well on the way to making an entire rocket engine from 3D printed parts. Nearly every rocket maker is using 3D printed parts — SpaceX uses additive manufacturing for its Merlin rocket engines, and more traditional aerospace giants are no strangers to 3D printing. [url]
• The Portland State Aerospace Society (PSAS) is a student organization that has already launched an amateur rocket 3 miles high. We’ve mentioned other student rocket projects before (USC reached an altitude of 4 miles a while ago), and the Civilian Space eXploration Team (CSXT) made it to 72 miles up in 2004. [url]

After you’ve finished checking out those links, take a look at our Daily Deals for cool gadgets and other awesome stuff.

Filed Under: 3d printing, civilian space exploration team, csxt, portland state aerospace society, rockets, space, space exploration, usc
Companies: nasa, rocket lab, spacex, ula