Aerospace and Defense Review : News

Additive manufacturing is more than just 3D printing. The process includes machining and heat-treating the component. Manufacturing steps are also simplified compared to conventional methods The aerospace industry has been utilizing additive manufacturing (AM) for various applications. Whether it is aircraft and helicopter parts or engines and turbines, 3D technologies help save time and money to create robust, more efficient components. AM has enhanced part performance, reduced weight, and has helped to remove design and production limitations. Additive Manufacturing versus Conventional Manufacturing Additive manufacturing is more than just 3D printing . The process includes machining and heat-treating the component. Manufacturing steps are also simplified [vendor_logo_first] compared to conventional methods. However, this adds some complications regarding certification. The process can be harder to control, as so many steps happen simultaneously. As the case in conventional manufacturing, the performance of various steps is common since constraints at each step are more limiting. A design engineer that knows forging, casting and machining can create a part model that the facility can reproduce it. But design needs more collaboration with manufacturers to come up with a design that is both efficient to produce as well as meets the required quality standards. The Future of Additive Manufacturing Additive manufacturing has primarily been limited to uncritical parts like ductwork and interior components. But AM is expected to play a more significant role in aircraft in the near future. The first AM titanium structural component, a door latch fitting, has recently been installed on commercial aircraft. With the advancement of technology, manufacturers would be capable of transitioning other structural parts to AM and developing new structural parts by leveraging 3D printing processes. Check Out:  Top Technology Companies in Aerospace Sector ...Read more

TRL (technology readiness level) is a measure for maturity7 of the technology and is usually measured on a scale of one to nine. The company’s lunar lander relies on in-space refueling to be able to carry out its mission. Dynetics’ lunar lander under development for NASA’s Artemis program is scheduled to make use of in-space refueling of cryogenic propellants and require three launches in quick succession, company officials revealed. In a September 15th webinar, the company discussed the overall architecture for the lander it is developing as part of NASA’s Human Landing System (HLS) program. Dynetics is one of three companies that received HLS contracts from NASA in April for initial design studies of a lander that can transport astronauts to and from the lunar surface. [vendor_logo_first]“Our lander is unique in that we need lunar fueling to accomplish our mission,” said Kathy Laurini, the HLS payload, and commercialization lead at Dynetics, during the webinar. “In the next couple years, we will take in-space cryogenic propellant refueling technologies from the lab to TRL 10 and operational.” TRL (technology readiness level) is a measure for maturity7 of the technology and is usually measured on a scale of one to nine. The company’s lunar lander relies on in-space refueling to be able to carry out its mission. Top Cryogenics Companies : ( Renaissance Scientific ,  Cryogenic Systems and Parts ,  Empire Magnetics ) “One challenge with this approach is with boiloff, or loss of cryogenic propellants as they warm up. To address this, Dynetics plans to carry out the Vulcan Centaur launches on 14 to 20 daycenters, or roughly two to three weeks apart,” said Kim Doering, vice president of space systems at Dynetics. “We worked closely with NASA on our concept of operations, and the Orion plans, to ensure that our operational scenario is viable and feasible.” The refueling process will initially be done using additional launches carrying propellant that is transferred to the lander. The lander is scheduled to be launched on a United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket. For the initial 2024 landing mission, Laurini said that two additional Vulcan launches would follow the launch. Propellant from those rockets’ Centaur upper stages will be transferred to the lander. “We’re all set up and preparing the launch system to support that cadence out of the Cape, and on track to do that,” said Mark Peller, ULA vice president, during the webinar. See also:  Top Aerospace Technology Companies   ...Read more

The mission will cost less than USD 55 million under NASA's SIMPLEx program and help usher a new era of space exploration. Lockheed Martin's Janus Project Manager Josh Wood explained that Janus' twin spacecraft are designed to be small and agile, each about the size of a carry-on suitcase. The University of Colorado Boulder and Lockheed Martin have decided to lead a new space mission to capture the first-ever close up look at a mysterious class of solar system objects called binary asteroids. These bodies are pairs of asteroids that orbit around each other in space, much like the Earth and Moon. NASA gave the official go-ahead to the Janus mission, named after the two-faced Roman god. The mission will study these asteroid couplets in never-before-seen detail. Known as Key Decision Point-C (KDP-C), this review and approval from NASA allow the project to begin implementation and baselines +the project's official schedule and budget. [vendor_logo_first] "Binary asteroids are one class of objects for which we don't have high-resolution scientific data," said Scheeres, distinguished professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at CU Boulder. "Everything we have on them is based on ground observations, which don't give you as much detail as being up close." In 2022, the Janus team will launch two identical spacecraft that will travel millions of miles to fly close to two binary asteroids individually. Their observations could open up a new window into how these diverse bodies evolve and even burst apart over time, said Daniel Scheeres, the principal investigator for Janus. The mission will cost less than USD 55 million under NASA's SIMPLEx program and help usher a new era of space exploration. Lockheed Martin's Janus Project Manager Josh Wood explained that Janus' twin spacecraft are designed to be small and agile, each about the size of a carry-on suitcase. "We see an advantage to be able to shrink our spacecraft," said Wood. "With technology advancements, we can now explore our solar system and address important science questions with smaller spacecraft." Janus is led by the University of Colorado Boulder, which will also undertake the scientific analysis of images and data for the mission. Lockheed Martin will manage, build, and operate the spacecraft. The mission will rendezvous with two binary pairs—named 1996 FG3 and 1991 VH—each showcasing a different kind of orbital pattern. The pair called 1991 VH, for example, has a moon that whips around a much more giant primary asteroid following a hard-to-predict pattern. See Also:  Top Aerospace Technology Companies ...Read more