Hot-Fire Tests Steering the Future of NASA’S Space Launch System Engines, NASA
“Engineers developing NASA’s next-generation rocket closed one chapter of testing with the completion of a J-2X engine test series on the A-2 test stand at the agency’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and will begin a new chapter of full motion testing on test stand A-1.
… The March 7 test, which set the short-lived duration record, was remarkable for another reason in that it marked the first time a 3-D printed part was hot-fire tested on a NASA engine system.
The prime contractor for the liquid engine, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne of Canoga Park, Calif., built a maintenance port cover for the 10002 engine using an advanced manufacturing process called Selective Laser Melting. This construction method uses lasers to fuse metal dust into a specific pattern to build the needed part.”

Marc Boucher is an entrepreneur, writer, editor, podcaster and publisher who has worked in space media for more than 25 years. In 1999 he co-founded SpaceRef with Keith Cowing. The new media company grew into a network that included NASA Watch and The Astrobiology Web. After selling SpaceRef, he joined Multiverse Media, which later merged with SpaceNews. There he helped steer the combined company toward more multimedia, a subscription paywall and intelligence products, and pushed for a mobile app. He is also the founder of SpaceQ Media, Canada’s space news and market intelligence publication.

Marc started his first Internet content business in 1992 and hasn’t looked back. When he’s not working, he loves exploring Canada and the world and expanding his photography skills.

5 replies on “Hot-Fire Test Includes First Ever 3-D Printed Part”

  1. Pretty cool stuff. I’m always interested in 3D Printing beyond just its uses with plastics.

  2. Key words here “on a NASA engine system”. Pretty sure Space-X has been doing this for a while already.

    1. Exactly. I’ve seen the SpaceX titanium/stainless printers. I was under the impression this was part of their cost savings measures – use of computerized fabrication. I was really impressed by the automated composite cutter used for making the rocket shell.

      1. Sorry NASA haters… SpaceX doesn’t use printed parts on their flight hardware. Just on ground tooling and support systems. This really is a big step for the rocket industry.

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