NASA tests 3D printed nozzle for deep space missions

NASA has achieved a breakthrough in additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, by creating a rocket engine nozzle made of aluminum that is lighter and more efficient than traditional nozzles. This innovation could pave the way for deep space exploration with more payload capacity.

RAMFIRE project

The nozzle was developed under the Reactive Additive Manufacturing for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or RAMFIRE, project, funded by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). The project aims to advance lightweight, additively manufactured aluminum rocket nozzles that withstand high temperatures and pressures.

The nozzle has small internal channels that keep it cool enough to prevent melting during the rocket engine operation. Unlike conventional nozzles that may need up to a thousand parts to be joined together, the RAMFIRE nozzle is built as a single piece, reducing the number of bonds and the manufacturing time.