Momentus, a U.S. commercial space company offering in-space transportation and infrastructure services, announced the manufacturing of a 3D printed fuel tank. It will perform flight testing aboard Momentus’s Vigoride-7 Orbital Service Vehicle. The tank was produced in collaboration with Velo3D, a provider of advanced metal additive manufacturing technology.
The fuel tank, designed by Momentus and manufactured using Velo3D’s advanced metal 3D printing technology, is a key application demonstrating how metal additive manufacturing can be used for mission-critical spacecraft components.
“Testing an additively manufactured fuel tank on Vigoride-7 is a major achievement for Momentus and a testament to the strength of our partnership with Velo3D,” said John Rood, Chief Executive Officer of Momentus. “Additive manufacturing opens new possibilities for spacecraft design and production, and this successful demonstration paves the way for broader adoption across our future missions.”
Momentus plans to utilize this technology to serve new markets as a qualified supplier for space-rated fuel tanks. These tanks typically are high cost and require long lead times.
According to Arun Jeldi, CEO of Velo3D, this fuel tank which “would be difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods”, “is a perfect example of how advanced manufacturing can deliver performance and reliability in space.”
The Vigoride-7 mission marks another step in Momentus’ commitment to advancing in-space infrastructure and services. By integrating additive manufacturing into its supply chain, Momentus aims to reduce costs, shorten development cycles, and enhance the resilience of its spacecraft systems.
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