About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Advanced Materials for Reusable Rocket Engines
|
| Presentation Title |
Wire-Arc AM Combustion Chambers: Reusability Considerations with AM and Accelerating the Material Development Path to Flight |
| Author(s) |
Bishop Wright, Jeff Rossin, Jamie Cleland |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Bishop Wright |
| Abstract Scope |
Building off the Terran-1 launch, Relativity Space has taken the next step with wire-arc (WAAM) and powder bed fusion (PBF) additive manufacturing (AM) processes in fracture critical applications. Terran-R, our next-generation reusable rocket, utilizes an additively manufactured Main Combustion Chamber (MCC) for the Aeon-R engine. With the need for reusable engines, a variety of material-process challenges arise concurrent with the need for rapid developmental iteration and engine component testing. This talk will center on the use of WAAM nickel alloys for the structural features of the MCC throughout Aeon-R development and qualification, focusing on the interaction of material structure and properties with engine performance, developmental risk posture, repair/ inspect-ability challenges, and timeline to achieve engine test objectives.
The challenges with the implementation of novel technical solutions such as alloy improvements and feedstock availability will be presented to the community at large. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Additive Manufacturing, Copper / Nickel / Cobalt, Other |