Agile Space Industries certifies 6K Additive Ni625 Powder for Rocket Parts

Space propulsion specialist Agile Space Industries recently announced it has certified 6K Additive‘s Ni625 powder for use in the construction of critical rocket parts. The first application will be found in Agile’s A2200 Hypergol engine, designed specifically for lunar exploration missions.

Kyle Metsger, Director of Additive Technology at Agile, explained: “By weight, 85% of our engine components are additively manufactured, meaning we rely heavily on AM powders that can withstand the extreme temperatures and forces generated during take-off and flight. 6K Additive allows us to additively manufacture using high-quality powders that are required for our critical applications, while also helping us meet our environmental goals through their recycling program and sustainably manufactured powders. 6K Additive can deliver extremely consistent powder that allows our production line to run the long build times required for these complex components.”

Metsger particularly emphasizes the sustainable production of 6K Additive. The company relies on a comprehensive recycling approach and consistently delivers high-quality powders required for the long build times of complex components.

Unlike traditional aerospace development cycles, which can last more than two decades, Agile cuts the time to just 12 months.

“A year-long development cycle still sounds like a very long time in many industries, but we are showing the primes in the aerospace industry what the future looks like. Moving to the larger TruPrint 5000 machine gave us the ability to qualify the new parameters for the machine and material simultaneously. In this way, AM allows us to be ‘Agile’ in name and practice,” continued Kyle Metsger.

The A2200 engine uses compressed gas propulsion with hypergolic propellants and delivers 500 lbf of thrust at a weight of only 5.9 kg. The specific impulse is more than 318 seconds. Most striking is the engine’s ability to modulate thrust between 50 and 100% in less than 650 milliseconds.

Frank Roberts, President at 6K Additive, commented: “We are always excited to partner with customers like Agile who leverage our high-quality powders to produce critical rocket parts to land on the moon. The fact that we can enable space exploration while continuing to lead the way with sustainability at home on Earth is the best of both worlds. Agile has a cradle-to-grave mentality around its products, and having 6K Additive supply the company with high-quality, sustainably produced Ni625 and provide an established waste stream to help with its environmental stewardship speaks to our mission of going beyond expectations for our customers.”

Agile and 6K Additive’s partnership illustrates how additive manufacturing can not only shorten development times, but also ensure high quality and sustainability in space technology. This collaboration paves the way for future, demanding space missions and demonstrates how high-quality, sustainably produced materials are becoming increasingly important in additive manufacturing.