April 20, 2024 AFRL researchers pave the way to lighter, faster additively manufactured rocket engines The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, Rocket Propulsion Division, recently designed, printed, built and hot fired a first-ever, single-block rocket-engine thrust chamber additively manufactured using a process called laser powder directed energy deposition, or DED.
Oct. 21, 2022 AFRL upgrades rocket fabrication capabilities The Air Force Research Laboratory upgraded its fabrication shop equipment with 20 new state-of-the-art machines for manufacturing rocket components that will enhance capabilities, increase accuracy and save money.
May 13, 2022 Latest Lab Life podcast launches with AFRL rocket man You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to go on Air Force Research Laboratory’s “Lab Life” podcast, but it does make for good conversation when one shows up.Especially when the guest is Nils Sedano, a rocket engineer and go-to historian type for the Lab who is comfortable switching gears from older
April 11, 2022 AFRL completes series of 1 Newton ASCENT monopropellant thruster testing The Chemical Propulsion Flight Programs Group at the Air Force Research Laboratory has successfully completed the Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-toxic Propellant (ASCENT) monopropellant 1 Newton (1N) thruster testing in the Chemical in-Space Thruster Test and Research Site test facility.