> There are only a few players in private space which print rocket engines, and our very own SpaceX was one of the first to pioneer this
The US isn't the only country with a large private space sector. China and India have both been heavily investing in it since the mid-2010s, because a dynamic space sector also means having an indigenous capability to deploy spy-satellites and ballistic missiles.
There's a reason why Maxar, SpaceX, etc all get outsized DoD funding.
India's space sector is also getting a massive cash infusion from the UAE [0] and KSA [1], as they both begin their process of building domestic space capabilities due to worries of Iran.
"The 6.2-meter-tall vehicle is made of carbon composite, which gives it a liftoff mass of 1,268 lb; at its heart is the 3D-printed semi-cryogenic engine that Agnikul manufactured in-house, each of which provides 6.2 kN of thrust."
This is like they clubbed together processes which Russia seems to use for manufacturing of some of its Novator cruise missiles. That technology must have transferred over somehow and they are just adapting it for space. It's great they adapted a military technology for something else (though I expect it will stay military), but it's nothing novel.
alan-hn|1 year ago
newswasboring|1 year ago
[1] https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/mcs/media/images/78030000/...
alephnerd|1 year ago
> There are only a few players in private space which print rocket engines, and our very own SpaceX was one of the first to pioneer this
The US isn't the only country with a large private space sector. China and India have both been heavily investing in it since the mid-2010s, because a dynamic space sector also means having an indigenous capability to deploy spy-satellites and ballistic missiles.
There's a reason why Maxar, SpaceX, etc all get outsized DoD funding.
India's space sector is also getting a massive cash infusion from the UAE [0] and KSA [1], as they both begin their process of building domestic space capabilities due to worries of Iran.
[0] - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/spotlight/indian-space-m...
[1] - https://www.zawya.com/en/business/technology-and-telecom/sau...
aamoyg|1 year ago
This is like they clubbed together processes which Russia seems to use for manufacturing of some of its Novator cruise missiles. That technology must have transferred over somehow and they are just adapting it for space. It's great they adapted a military technology for something else (though I expect it will stay military), but it's nothing novel.