LEAP 71, a Dubai-based engineering firm, and The Exploration Company, known for Nyx, a reusable orbital space vehicle, have entered into a pioneering partnership. The collaboration aims to accelerate innovation in the aerospace sector by developing more efficient calculation and manufacturing models for space vehicle design.

AI and Additive Manufacturing for Space Exploration

The key to this partnership’s success lies in combining artificial intelligence (AI) with additive manufacturing, specifically 3D printing. LEAP 71 is designing complex high performance rocket engines that can be 3D printed using its own Computational Engineering Model. The aim is to expedite innovation in aerospace while reducing production costs by fusing AI and additive manufacturing.

Advancing 3D Printing in Aerospace

Additive manufacturing, particularly with metals, has already made significant strides in aerospace and space exploration, producing finished parts for rockets and satellites. Both companies share the same goal and the desired outcome is reducing manufacturing time as well as component weight which will then lead to higher performing aircrafts and a more viable business model.

LEAP 71’s Role

LEAP 71 intends to test and validate its progress by 3D printing the rockets designed by their Computational Engineering Model. Additive manufacturing is the ideal method for producing different versions of a single product efficiently.

Accelerating Space Exploration

Hélène Huby, co-founder, and CEO of The Exploration Company, highlights the need for a faster engineering approach in space exploration, particularly when it comes to designing complex components like rocket engines. Computational models enable faster design iterations, which lead to quicker testing and validation.

A Key Building Block for Spacefaring Societies

Josefine Lissner, founder and managing director of LEAP 71, expresses excitement about testing their Computational Engineering Model in the real world. This partnership aims to achieve a tipping point in the space industry by successfully producing operational engines with this model across various parameters. Each test conducted will provide valuable feedback to further improve the objects produced.

This collaboration represents a significant step towards advancing space exploration through the fusion of AI and 3D printing technology, ultimately contributing to the realization of spacefaring societies.