中国初创企业SPACETAIhas claimed its 3D printing technology is capable of slashing rocket production costs by as much as 80 percent.
Although a relatively new arrival on the space scene, SpaceTai says it can manufacture almost all its rocket parts using its self-developed 3D printers in order to cut costs.
With its first suborbital test flight slated for 2023, the firm could potentially challenge the likes of Elon Musk’sSpaceX,Rocket Lab,Orbex,相对性空间以及其他人在接下来的几年中利用3D打印到太空。
削减生产成本
Established in March 2021, SpaceTai is a newcomer to the space industry with sizeable intentions. The firm aims to bring rocket production costs down to below one-fifth of the current average by means of its own 3D printers specifically developed for fabricating rocket parts.
该公司表示，它能够通过3D打印制造火箭中使用的90％的零件，这将大大降低生产成本。
The firm is developing a 3D printed rocket engine called “xiaoyi”, or “small ant”, which uses liquid oxygen and kerosene fuel as propellants. SpaceTai says xiaoyi’s performance is superior to the gas generator cycle technology currently used within commercial space engine manufacturing.
Two models of the xiaoyi are being developed, and will reportedly have thrusts of 20 and 30 tons at sea level. The engines can be manufactured on SpaceTai’s own metal 3D printer in just 30 days, the company claims, and it is also working on a next-generation engine called “juyi”, or “huge ant”. Once complete, the juyi could boast thrusts of up to 200 tons at sea level.
The engines will power SpaceTai’s recyclable Flying and Flying H launch vehicles, which will both be 90 percent produced via 3D printing. At 50 meters long, the Flying rocket will be capable of carrying a nine-ton payload into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), while the Flying H, also spanning 50 meters, will carry 25 tons into LEO.
SpaceTai正在开发一个专门针对火箭机身制造的专家3D打印机，其目的是在三个月的时间内进行3D打印。该公司目前正在该公司的上海工厂正在建设这一生产线。
In addition to developing its rocket-building 3D printers and subsequent components, SpaceTai is also building an online inventory of metal 3D printing services which it hopes other industries will make use of. To reach its rocket production goals, the company estimates it will require in the region of $94.6 million investment for R&D purposes and for the construction of its plants.
Looking ahead, SpaceTai aims to complete a suborbital test flight of its 3D printed rocket in 2023, and in 2024 hopes to send its rocket into orbit. The firm expects to begin making sales of its 3D printed rockets and metal 3D printing services from next year.
3D打印的太空竞赛很热
尽管SpaceTai在其Rocket 3D打印技术中可以实现的生产效率方面提出了一些大胆的主张，但它与该领域的唯一球员相去甚远。
仅在去年，火箭实验室就被授予超过2400万美元美国太空力量资助其研发下一代中子发射车, while private aerospace firmLauncher已经达到了一个新的测试里程碑3 d印刷依照火箭发动机atNASA的Stennis航天中心.
在其他地方，总部位于爱丁堡Skyroraclaimed to have built欧洲最大的混合动力3D打印机专门用于制造大型火箭发动机零件和相对性空间筹集了6.5亿美元加大名单tion of its new reusable, fully 3D printed Terran R rocket.
Australian cold spray 3D printer manufacturerspee3d, meanwhile, also threw its hat into the space race ring last July when it announced plans to3D打印低成本金属3D印刷火箭发动机en-masse.
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特色图片显示Launcher conducts a hot fire test for its 3D-printed Engine-2 rocket engine in the E Test Complex at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. Photo via Launcher/John Kraus Photography.
