NASA rocket fuel pump tests pave way for methane-fueled Mars lander by Staff Writers Huntsville AL (SPX) Apr 27, 2016 NASA has tested a 3-D printed rocket engine turbopump with liquid methane - an ideal propellant for engines needed to power many types of spacecraft for NASA's journey to Mars. "This is one of the most complex rocket parts NASA has ever tested with liquid methane, a propellant that would work well for fueling Mars landers and other spacecraft," said Mary Beth Koelbl, the manager of the Propulsions Systems Department at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. "Additive manufacturing, or 3-D printing, made it possible to quickly design, build and test two turbopumps with identical designs that worked well with both liquid methane and liquid hydrogen propellant." A turbopump is complex because it has turbines that spin fast to drive the pump, which supplies fuel to the engine. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!Engineers prepare a 3-D printed turbopump for a test at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The turbopump was tested at full power, pumping 600 gallons of liquid methane per minute, enough to power an engine capable of generating 22,500 pounds of thrust. An engine with this technology is an ideal candidate for a Mars lander. Image courtesy NASA/MSFC/Emmett Given. For a larger version of this image please gohere. Watch a video on the technology here. more at..... http://www.marsdaily.com/reports/NA...e_way_for_methane_fueled_Mars_lander_999.html
Cool. 3d printing is definitely going to have an impact on lots of industrial processes that are currently done on lathes and mills.
Already has, it's been around for more than 10 years. But the materials and speeds are improving. You can now print glass, ceramics, even frosting.
