Apr 8, 2019: A 3D engine mount from RUAG Space will be the first 3D printed part on the moon. The lunar lander of the private Israeli company SpaceIL is scheduled to land on the moon on Thursday, 11 April. A rocket carrying the spacecraft lifted off from Earth two month ago in mid-February. Since then the spacecraft is on its journey to the moon. “Our 3D part will support landing and lift off of the spacecraft on the moon”, explains Peter Guggenbach, CEO RUAG Space, Europe’s leading space supplier. The spacecraft will use a 3D printed aluminum structure developed by RUAG Space for its main engine. RUAG Space is a pioneer in offering 3D Printing solutions to space. Since 2014 RUAG Space has developed space components based on Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) technology. RUAG Space designed the 3D part and qualified it for space. For the production of the 3D printed structure RUAG Space contracted U.S. Company MORF3D, a leader in Additive Manufacturing solutions for the Aerospace industry.
3D Printing: quicker and lighter
“With 3D Printing our customers profit from a quicker and more cost-efficient production”, says Peter Guggenbach. 3D Printing also enables to produce lighter metal or plastic components. “Weight reduction is a decisive factor in the space industry”, says Guggenbach. Apart from lighter parts 3D Printing also allows, to produce geometries that provide higher performance at a lower mass compared to conventional production means.
The lunar lander from SpaceIL is the first private initiative to land a spacecraft on the moon. After landing on the lunar surface the spacecraft will send back photos and videos as well as data about the moon’s magnetic field.
About RUAG Space: RUAG Space is the leading supplier to the space industry in Europe, and has a growing presence in the United States. In total, RUAG Space has about 1,300 employees across six countries. RUAG Space develops and manufactures products for satellites and launch vehicles—playing a key role both in the institutional and commercial space market. RUAG Space is a division of the international technology group RUAG. RUAG develops and markets internationally sought-after technology applications in the fields of aerospace and defense for use on land, in the air and in space.
More about 3D Printing solutions for space from RUAG:
https://www.ruag.com/en/
