3D thruster chamber

The ESA has completed hot fire tests on the world’s first 3D-printed spacecraft thruster with a platinum combustion chamber and nozzle.

Tests involved a series of firings that lasted more than an hour and 618 ignitions.

The trial is part of ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems programme (ARTES).

Airbus Defence and Space produced and tested the prototype thruster at its facility in Lampoldshausen, Germany, through ESA’s Additive Manufacturing Technologies for Advanced Satellite Thrust Chamber (AMTAC) project.

Airbus Defence and Space project manager Steffen Beyer said: "The firings included a single burn of 32 minutes, during which a maximum throat temperature of 1,253°C was attained.

"It demonstrates that performance comparable to a conventional thruster can be obtained through 3D printing."

"It demonstrates that performance comparable to a conventional thruster can be obtained through 3D printing."

Designed for the ten N hydrazine thrusters, the combustion chamber was printed in platinum-rhodium alloy using a laser beam to a metal powder bed.

ESA telecom platform engineer Clive Edwards said: "This successful test is a major step towards the goal of full product qualification under ARTES.

"Thrusters made using this technology have exceptional potential for the satellite reaction control thruster market, offering class-leading performance at competitive prices."

For the next phase of tests, Airbus plans to print the components using platinum-iridium alloy, which can be manufactured only by printing for space use.

Image: 3D-printed platinum thruster chamber and nozzle. Photo: courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space.