China3D printingNet, March 15th, as more and more aerospace companies are booming, the research and development of rocket science, aerospace engineering and space travel has reached unprecedented heights. Since the early 1990s, the number of orbital launches has continued to decline, and the company began to put payloads into orbit in the mid-2000s, regardless of success or failure (although usually successful), cutting-edge experimental technology for spacecraft, rockets and space exploration vehicles Quickly established our belief in the aerospace industry. Rocket launches are streamed online more frequently than ever before, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is formulating rules to allow students and space researchers everywhere to put their creations into orbit.
More than 100 emerging space companies are competing in the vast commercialization of space, and many college students are beginning to see opportunities in this field. This is the case with Stratodyne. This startup is committed to applying additive manufacturing technology to aerospace and stratospheric science. This technology involves placing balloon-like stratospheric satellites on the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere, each mission lasting several days. Weeks or even months.
This startup was founded in January this year by 20-year-old Edward Ge (Edward Ge), a financial student at the University of Missouri, and some of his high school and college friends. The startup focuses on using3D printingAdvanced technology to reduce costs. For space and high-altitude research.
A device with a CubeSat frame can hold a payload (photograph: Stratodyne)
According to China3D printingNetwork understanding,GeDescribes his company as “originally conceived as a manufacturer of CubeSat frames and a testing service provider in near-space conditions, because the CubeSat industry lacks affordable parts and services.” However, together with other founders, he, Decided to follow their ideas in multiple routes, seeking to create3D printingThe modular remote control airship can be used as an artificial satellite, a test bed, and even a launch platform for small rockets into space.
As we to3D printingStratospheric satellites and3D printingAs part of the development of the CubeSat, we recently launched a small prototype, which consists of a CubeSat, a truss and an engine mount with a dual-solar UAV, which can climb up to 27 kilometers. Except for solar motors, vehicle electronics and parachutes, all components are made of common thermoplastic polymers ABS and ASA 3D printingBecome. The flight lasted six hours, and our experimental motor almost doubled the flight time of the balloon. We intend to use the prototype altitude control system for another launch in April to keep stratospheric satellites flying at high altitudes for 24 hours. “
In order to satisfy all of them3D printingneed,GeAnd the other founders currently have multiple machines for them to use.The University of Missouri has lent them a Stratasys FDM machine 400mc, which uses polycarbonate to manufacture parts for rockets and even satellites. Many Prusa are open source3D printingMachine and custom CNC printers being produced.
Stratodyne is using one of them3D printingOne of the machines, Stratasys FDM, to create Edward E, used to create their CubeSat (Photo: Stratodyne)
GeSaid: These machines provide us with a wide range of materials, but currently, we mainly use parts made of polycarbonate, thermoplastic polymer ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and ASA (acrylonitrile-butadiene- Styrene), and even experimenting with nylon powder and laser printing. “
In the first few months of the company’s establishment, they carried out3D printingIt is not feasible to test rockets before deciding to develop a real launch system with resources and budget.The plan at the time was crowdfunding development3D printingThe exploration rocket, which is comparable to the “Blackbrand” rocket used by NASA or the rocket produced by Up Aerospace, is estimated to cost US$40,000. GeOf course, the possibility of cooperating with rockets in the future has not been ruled out, but now most of the work has been turned to stratospheric satellites because of the low cost of commercialization.
Equipment on the rise (Image source: Stratodyne)
Stratodyne plans to achieve commercialization in the middle of 2021, but currently, most of their plans are in the research and development stage. Of course, this may change according to their development speed and the circumstance of the venture capital funds they obtain.
(Editor in charge: admin)
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