On July 25, the Colorado-based rocket propulsion business Ursa Major revealed the opening of a new additive manufacturing research facility in Youngstown, Ohio.
Ursa Major manufactures solid rocket motors and rocket engine components using 3D printing technology.
The Ohio expansion of Ursa Major expands upon the company’s 2021 Advanced Manufacturing Lab, which was founded in collaboration with America Mades.
The U.S. government launched the public-private alliance America Makes in 2012 to promote the use of additive manufacturing and boost economic competitiveness.
According to Ursa Major, the new facility is the result of a $14.5 million capital project, of which $4 million came from a JobsOhio grant.
With support from the Air Force Research Laboratory, the company is currently in contract with the U.S. Department of Defense for work on propulsion technology for national security programs, such as the Arroway engine, a reusable liquid oxygen and methane staged combustion engine for medium and heavy launch vehicles, which is anticipated to hotfire in 2025.
According to Joe Laurienti, CEO of Ursa Major, “Ursa Major is expanding its R&D efforts to meet a rapidly growing portfolio of U.S. Department of Defense development contracts.”
He stated that the availability of suppliers, raw materials, and a strong additive manufacturing ecosystem in Ohio—all of which are bolstered by the America Mades initiative—were factors in the choice to increase 3D printing operations in the state.
According to Laurienti, the new center will concentrate on expediting the processes of material research and qualification for additive manufacturing applications in the aerospace industry. This involves creating copper and nickel alloys for liquid rocket engines as well as metallic alloys for solid rocket motors.
The facility will have state-of-the-art 3D printers for material creation and quick prototyping, with the goal of accelerating propulsion technology innovation.
