The component’s development was the result of the combined efforts of engineers at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and their industry partners at Colorado-based Elementum 3D. The rocket nozzle is assembled from a new weldable variety of aluminum that is heat-resistant enough for use in rockets but is also more lightweight than other nozzles used in conventional rocket engines. NASA reports that it has tested a new 3D-printed rocket engine component made from a novel material that could help to hasten an era of deep space flights that are able to carry larger payloads.
