Capsule Nyx développée par The Exploration Company (TEC) (crédits photo: The Exploration Company)
A few days ago, I reported to you the latest achievement of LEAP71 regarding the creation of a 3D-printed aerospike rocket engine. Today, the Dubai-based company is making headlines again through an agreement they have just signed with The Exploration Company (TEC), a leading European space company, for a renewable five-year collaboration agreement.
Under this agreement, TEC will utilize the Noyron RP technology from LEAP71, a software tool based on artificial intelligence algorithms, to support the development of its next-generation rocket engines.
“Most space companies still rely on tedious geometric design methods”
XRA-2E5 Rocket Engine 3D-printed by LEAP71 (photo credits: LEAP71)
TEC is developing a portfolio of propulsion systems and spacecraft, including the Nyx capsule, a reusable spacecraft designed for orbital refueling, cargo transport (and potentially crew) to low Earth orbit space stations.
The company is also designing Typhoon, a next-generation aerospike rocket engine with full-flow staged combustion, offering high efficiency, better fuel efficiency, and superior reusability compared to traditional architectures.
The exploration company will integrate Noyron RP into its internal digital engineering program. Designs will be validated using TEC’s standard analysis and testing method.
“Most space companies still rely on tedious geometric design methods. Noyron allows engineers to adopt a high-level, code-focused approach”
Presented a few days ago at the TCT Asia exhibition in Shanghai, the XRA-2E5 engine was 3D-printed using a laser fusion process on a powder bed with Inconel 718, a high-temperature nickel superalloy commonly used in rocket propulsion systems.
