NordSpace installs robotic AFP systems, progresses build of launch vehicle tanks and primary structures

Source | NordSpace

NordSpace (Markham), a Canadian company developing vertically integrated solutions for responsive orbital launch vehicles, portable spaceports and turnkey satellites, is crossing an important milestone along its path to manufacture highly advanced composite pressure vessels and structures in Canada: production of its first AFP components.

As part of a major extension of its vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities in the NordSpace Advanced Manufacturing for Aerospace Lab (AMA Lab), NordSpace is bringing in-house large-scale robotic AFP technologies to manufacture its Tundra launch vehicle’s light-lift flight tanks and primary structures, while setting the stage to scale to its Titan vehicle for medium-lift. NordSpace partnered with Bespline’s (Sherbrooke, QC, Canada) equipment division Addcomp for the AFP systems integration, and was further supported by business partners BDC, Addcomposites, Investissement Québec and Sherbrooke Innovante.

These capabilities, reports NordSpace, will result in the strongest, lightest, safest and most responsive orbital launch vehicles possible for Canada, while also opening new options for Canadian industry across multiple sectors ranging from aviation and defense, to energy and transportation.

“The goal of any orbital launch program, especially one developing light-lift capabilities where margins are very slim, is to maximize the vehicle’s payload capacity to useful orbits such as Sun synchronous orbits [SSO],” NordSpace says in a LinkedIn post. “Maintaining the lowest possible dry mass and highest possible thrust-to-weight ratio by bringing this advanced composites manufacturing technology in-house sets the stage not only for Tundra, but also the ability for NordSpace to quickly scale up to our medium-lift Titan vehicle and Tundra+ configuration.”

Selecting the correct fundamental vehicle architecture, engine cycle, materials and propellants at the light-lift stage is critical to enable the reusable medium-lift future that Canada needs to unlock value from sovereign space launch and be globally competitive. Together with the National Research Council Canada, NordSpace is also advancing research and development on multiple fronts, including:

Significant size and scale of composite pressure vessels (up to 15 meters in length and multiple meters in diameter).
Handling cryogenic propellants within composite materials without damaging the fibers.
Linerless Type 5 tanks made entirely from composites using AFP to further reduce vehicle dry mass.
Applying the same techniques to other use cases for NordSpace rockets such as engine jackets, interstages, thrust structures, fairings and more.

NordSpace will soon be producing its first series of flight-scale orbital tanks, and we will continue to share its progress on LinkedIn.

Learn more on CW about how AFP is advancing space.