Dawn Aerospace awarded ESA 3D printed rocket engine contract

The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded a contract worth €385,000 to Dutch launch provider Dawn Aerospace as part of its Future Launcher Preparatory Programme (FLPP).

Through the contract, ESA will provide support to Dawn for the development of 3D printed combustion chambers for high performance, high combustion pressure rocket engines.

“We are proud to work in cooperation with the European Space Agency,” said Jeroen Wink, Dawn Aerospace CEO.

“This is important work that will lead to higher-performance, more reliable rocket engines that can fly to space hundreds of times without refurbishment.”

The materials commonly used in additive manufacturing, such as stainless steel, titanium and Inconel lack the necessary thermal conductivity needed for ultra-high-performance combustion chambers. The work that Dawn is planning for the project involves 3D printing high melting temperature and high thermally conductive materials.

The finished products will then be utilised for the Mk-II Aurora spaceplane.

As a technology, Additive Manufacturing offers lighter and cheaper rocket engines with fewer individual parts and ultimately higher performance.

ESA's FLPP is a key component of Europe's space access strategy and the programme is overseeing research into a variety of new launch technologies, lightweight and high-performance systems, low-cost structures, reusability and green launch systems.

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