British company to test 3D-printed rocket engines
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The British company Skyrora has launched tests of 3D printed rocket engines. About it informs skynews.
The company printed the engines on its own Skyprint 2 equipment, which cuts production time in half and also cuts costs. Engine testing will take place in Scotland at the test center in Midlothian. Testing is planned to be carried out during the summer. Each test will run the engine for 250 seconds. It is specified that this is how long it would take him to launch in a real mission to reach orbit
Company founder Vladimir Levykin believes that the 3D-printed engines bring Skyrora closer to its first commercial launch into orbit. If the testing is successful, the company will ramp up production ahead of further testing of its three-stage Skyrora XL launch vehicle, a 23m rocket with a payload of 315kg. The first stage, which provides the initial thrust to take the vehicle off the ground, needs to be tested with new engines. The second and third stages of the rocket have already been tested.
It is specified that Skyrora has received funding from space agencies in the UK and the European Union. The company has already applied in 2022 for a license from the Civil Aviation Authority for orbital launches, which are planned to be carried out from the Saksavord launch site in Shetland. Spaceport Deputy Director Scott Hammond admitted that several launches could be made before the end of the year.
Skyrora is a private space company that was established in 2017 and is headquartered in Edinburgh with operations across Europe, according to the company’s website. Skyrora employs about 160 people.
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