Conflux partners with Rocket Factory Augsburg on heat exchangers for space
The aerospace development initiative is part of Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars initiative
Conflux Technology, an Australian metal additive manufacturing innovator specializing in heat exchangers, and German-based Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) are entering into a partnership to embed the Conflux heat exchanger into a gas duct of an orbital rocket. This project is part of the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Initiative: Supply Chain Capability Improvement Grant Program. The $1 million AUD grant funding is being used to develop and manufacture this 3D printed heat exchanger.
The program includes materials qualification and testing of Monel 500K, using the EOS M300-4 metal LPBF production platform to develop, build and conduct a functional test in 2023 of a gas duct heat exchanger.
“Conflux is partnering with RFA to embed next-generation heat exchange technology into a rocket engine. At Conflux we are establishing ourselves as leaders in developing and commercializing 3D printed thermal solutions and relevant materials for extreme applications. With support from the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Grant Supply Chain Capability Improvement grant, we are now applying it to the rapidly expanding space industry,” said Dan Woodford, Chief Commercial Officer, Conflux Technology.
The Supply Chain Capability Improvement Grant Program is part of the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Initiative. The initiative supports Australian organizations with projects that could contribute to NASA’s inspirational endeavor to go to the Moon and on to Mars. This initiative is also an essential element of the Agency’s goal to transform and grow the Australian space industry. Conflux is proud to be one of the innovative Australian businesses awarded funding under this initiative.
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) was founded in 2018 with the vision to enable data generating business models in space to better monitor, protect and connect our planet Earth. Against this background, the company’s goal is to offer launch services of up to 1.300kg into low Earth orbits and beyond on a weekly basis at unmatched prices. With this, RFA wants to democratize access to space and reduce the launch costs in the space industry. The RFA ONE launch system combines three key competitive advantages: A customer-focused service with precise in-orbit delivery and a high degree of mission flexibility through its Redshift OTV; at a highly competitive price; made possible by superior staged combustion technology, low-cost structures and usage of industrial components.
