Research rocket

Extending the technique of metal flow forming to launcher technology is part of ESA’s Future Launchers Preparatory Programme, working with industry partner MT-Aerospace, in cooperation with NASA Langley Research Center and Lockheed Martin.

The first element, a 43 cm-diameter aluminium tube forming part of the upper stage of a research rocket carrying experiments, was put to the test on 8 October 2015 at NASA’s Wallop’s Flight Facility for a suborbital mission lasting 30 minutes.