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Briefing
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- 3D Printed Insulation Foam – NASA uses 3D printing to create custom insulation foam to protect Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from extreme temperatures and conditions in space
- Custom Molds – 3D printed foam is applied to smaller, more intricate parts of rocket such as inside machineries using customized molds
- Traditional Insulation – Spray-on or traditional insulation still used for large and small components of rocket to protect from high heat during launch and keep propellant stored in large tanks cold
- Advantages – Custom molds fit rocket parts perfectly without requiring post-process trimming, therefore reducing processing time
- Streamlined Process – Engineers decreased time required to certify individual 3D printed molds, allowing more focus on foam application
- Moon Mission – NASA targeting to send astronauts to moon by 2024, with SLS and Orion spacecraft to launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida to Gateway space station in lunar orbit, where it will use human landing system to land on moon
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Accelerator
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Sector
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Government (excluding military)
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Function
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Operations, Manufacturing and Production, Research and Development
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Organization
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NASA
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Source
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Original Publication Date
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April 15, 2019
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