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Completed TRL 4 (started at 3, targeting 4)
Leverage AM R&D investments in collaboration with EOS and UTEP. Conduct laser powder bed fusion parameter development of Mo and Ir and material characterization. AM enables greatly increased design flexibility, reduced material waste directly decreases production cost, automation decreases lead time, and risk is decreased by minimizing human error and results enable dozens of potential existing commercial AM vendors. Results also feed into GCD proposal already under review at NASA HQ to accelerate proposed task schedule completion.
High temperature refractory metals needed (HLS RCS thrusters, NTP fuel clad, Hypersonic wing leading edges, Green Propulsion thruster/catalysts) but difficult to manufacture, high buy-to-fly ratios (20:1), anisotropic properties, expensive, long lead times, and limited commercial vendors. This activity leverages additive manufacture (AM) to develop Molybdenum (Mo) and Iridium (Ir) parameters to print Mo thrusters/clad and Ir ultra-fine lattice structure catalysts.
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