3D-printed turbo pump for Prometheus rocket engine

ESA’s Prometheus is the precursor of ultra-low-cost rocket propulsion that is flexible enough to fit a fleet of new launch vehicles for any mission and could be reusable. 

The mono-shaft turbo pump, built via additive layer-by-layer manufacturing (ALM) methods, is a key technology. It enables a radical simplification of the engine layout and slashes costs. 

Thanks to ALM, the pump’s highly integrated components require no additional surface finishing post-manufacturing, which cuts costs even further.