S1 AM Bracket - Rupture Test Time Lapse

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have progressed rapidly in the last years. Supported by the recent developments of design optimisation tools and manufacturing capabilities, components and parts produced using AM are emerging more and more into the focus of space industry. The aim of this presentation is to show why AM can be seen a promising manufacturing technique for space industry and in particular for satellite application? Opportunities and challenges that have to be faced to make 3D printed components “flying” on spacecraft are presented and discussed. The re-engineering and qualification approach of the already existing Antenna Support Bracket, that is part of the Sentinel-1 spacecraft, is discussed as a case study to bring this topic into the more tangible context of an industrial project.