Skyroot Aerospace, a startup company in India, has successfully test fired a cryogenic engine made using 3D printing technology. This is a major milestone for the company and for the Indian space industry as a whole.
Cryogenic engines are used to power rockets that carry heavy payloads into space. They use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as fuel, which must be stored at extremely low temperatures. This makes cryogenic engines more complex and difficult to manufacture than other types of rocket engines.
Skyroot Aerospace has been developing its own cryogenic engine, called the Vikram-1, since 2018. The company has been using 3D printing technology to manufacture the engine’s components, which has allowed for faster prototyping and reduced costs.
The recent test firing of the Vikram-1 engine was a significant success for Skyroot Aerospace. The engine was fired for 240 seconds, which is longer than any other cryogenic engine made in India. The test also demonstrated the engine’s ability to throttle its thrust, which is necessary for controlling the rocket’s speed and trajectory.
The use of 3D printing technology in the manufacturing of rocket engines is a relatively new development. Traditionally, rocket engines are made using conventional manufacturing techniques such as casting and machining. However, 3D printing allows for more complex shapes and designs to be created, which can improve engine performance and reduce weight.
Skyroot Aerospace is not the only company exploring the use of 3D printing in rocket engine manufacturing. SpaceX, the private space company founded by Elon Musk, has also been using 3D printing to manufacture its rocket engines. In fact, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket uses a 3D printed engine part called the SuperDraco thruster.
The successful test firing of Skyroot Aerospace’s cryogenic engine is a major achievement for the company and for India’s space industry. It demonstrates that 3D printing technology can be used to manufacture complex and high-performance rocket engines. This could lead to faster and more cost-effective development of space technology in the future.
