China3D printingNet September 2nd, newcomers in the military field are preparing to strengthen space surveillance missions. Since its official establishment on December 20, 2019, the United States Space Force (USSF)-the sixth branch of the military and part of the U.S. Air Force-has been training, equipping, and providing space capabilities for its 5,000 space forces. “To protect the country from threats, including nuclear explosions, missiles, and space launches. As part of future surveillance missions, USSF announced in August 2021 that startups Relativity Space, Astra Space and ABL Space Technologies have been selected to provide launches in the Orbital Service Plan (OSP)-4 Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Period (IDIQ) service).
Within the framework of the plan, these three aerospace companies – all of which are using 3D printing technology to manufacture rocket parts or entire ships – will compete for launch services with payloads of more than 400 pounds and must be ready to launch To any track within 12 to 24 months. OSP-4 is a US$986 million launch service procurement for approximately 20 missions in nine years. According to USSF, the participation of these emerging private companies will protect, stimulate and strengthen the small launch industrial base and give USSF a “diversified supplier pool” to support national defense.
Lieutenant Colonel Justin Belts, head of the USSF’s small launch and targeting department, said that the plan uses “low barriers to entry into mature launch suppliers and start-up companies that will have launch capabilities in about a year.”
The new U.S. Space Force logo. Image courtesy of USSF.
October 2019,U.S. Space Force The Rocket System Launch Program (RSLP) office is part of the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) launch enterprise located at Cortland Air Force Base in New Mexico, and initially awarded OSP-4 contracts to nine major commercial organizations. Space business. These startups include spacecraft launch service manufacturers SpaceX, Rocket Lab, United Launch Alliance, Virgin Orbital subsidiary VOX Space and X-Bow Launch Systems. And autonomous transportation manufacturer Aevum, Firefly Aerospace’s national security and civil aerospace subsidiary Firefly Black, and Northrop Grumman’s flight and rocket propulsion system professional developer Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems.
The USSF can use the on-ramp system to add additional launch vehicle suppliers at any time by restarting the competition and using the same reward base established during the initial call. This portal will add additional emerging launch vendors to groups eligible to compete for future USSF OSP-4 task order awards. Beltz stated that they use this IDIQ contract to continue to “introduce speed, agility and flexibility” to launch companies while fostering a “flexible and affordable launch market.”
The first stage of Relativity Space is part of a fully 3D printed rocket.Picture byRelativity Spacesupply.
The new launch has resulted in a total of 11 suppliers competing for 20 tasks in the next 9 years. Like many of the top 9 aerospace companies selected for the award, these three startups are critical to promoting the adoption of 3D printing technology in the aerospace industry. One of the most famous companies in this field is Relativity Space in California. With what is considered the world’s largest large metal 3D printer, the company has built almost the entire rocket in-house. The customized Stargate 3D printer uses artificial intelligence (AI) to drive the control of this large-scale directional energy deposition (DED) system, which can print a 20-foot-tall structure in about three weeks.
Stargate uses laser-equipped Kuka robotic arms to manufacture parts, and sends aluminum wires into the laser focus of one of the robotic arms, while the other two robotic arms perform post-processing and inspection. The result is fully optimized parts production, reducing the number of rocket parts, construction time and iteration time, while improving quality and reducing manufacturing costs due to a simplified supply chain and internal production capabilities.
Relativity Space’s Stargate DED 3D printer. The picture is provided by Relativity Space.
To date, Relativity has won multiple launch contracts from eight customers for its fully 3D printed Terran 1 rocket, which will be launched by the end of 2021. The fully reusable, fully 3D printed Terran R rocket-expected to take off in 2024 -; completed its $650 million Series E financing; an unprecedented year of job creation; and related to Terran 1 For business needs, the company described it as “the most pre-sold rocket in pre-launch history.”
Another winner is Astra Space, a rocket launch startup based in Alameda, California. It has more than $452 million in cash on its balance sheet and successfully launched its first two test vehicles into orbit. Nevertheless, the company encountered some troubles when launching the final version of the Rocket 3 rocket because it could not successfully reach space. Hope this problem will be resolved soon, and USSF will use Astra Space rockets to send satellites.
Astra Space was selected for launch by the U.S. Space ForceOne of the launch vehicle manufacturers.Image courtesy of Astra Space.
The vision established by Astra is to launch rockets to LEO frequently, routinely and automatically, hoping to manufacture small rockets designed for mass production and reliable performance. Therefore, although co-founders Chris Kemp and Adam London stated that they do not rely on “expensive 3D printing or labor-intensive composite materials” to make rockets, they still use AM to complete the impellers of the pump and rocket engine room.
The last winner on our list is ABL Space Systems. ABL was founded by former SpaceX employees, determined to prove that reaching space can be simple, efficient and routine. The Los Angeles-based rocket startup designed and manufactured its rocket engine in-house, using 3D printing to manufacture parts for its E2 engine, which will power the first and second phases of the RS1 launch vehicle, including the thrust chamber . This targeted use of AM allows the incorporation of complex internal fluid passages into the engine.
ABL Space Systems tested one of its rocket engines.Image courtesy of ABL Space System
As part of its ongoing program to acquire and develop military space systems, USSF continues to select some of the most innovative space launch suppliers in the private space sector and deliver them to LEO. All three new companies entering the ramp are using advanced 3D printing technology to develop new systems and are expected to continue testing their spacecraft to put USSF satellites into orbit and expand the country’s national security space capabilities.
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