Air Force Taps Aerojet Rocketdyne to Work on 3-D Printed Rocket Engine Qualification Standards

Aerojet Rocketdyne will work with the U.S. Air Force develop standards for the qualification of 3-D printed rocket engine components under a $6 million contract awarded as part of the Booster Propulsion Technology Maturation broad agency announcement.

The company said Tuesday it will work to leverage its experience with additive manufacturing processes and technologies to support the service branch’s efforts to develop alternatives to the Russian RD-180 engines.

“New liquid rocket engine designs… are increasingly taking advantage of 3-D printing technology because it reduces the amount of time and money required to build these complex components,” said Julie Van Kleeck, vice president of advanced space and launch programs at Aerojet Rocketdyne.

Aerojet Rocketdyne is one of three companies awarded contracts to research new methods for rocket engine manufacturing.