DailyDirt: Cheaper Rockets Taking Off

Rocket science is difficult, but as technology gets better, it looks like more and more people are capable of launching pretty powerful rockets. Private companies are semi-routinely shooting satellites into space, and that capability could be useful for all kinds of applications ranging from scientific exploration... to intercontinental missiles. If hobbyist drones seem like a problem now, wait until more hobbyist rockets are launching into space.

• New Zealand-based Rocket Lab has a partially 3D-printed rocket engine scheduled to launch later this year. Its Electron rocket powered by 9 Rutherford rocket engines can get small satellites into orbit -- for just $5 million (versus a $60 million SpaceX rocket or even more expensive competitors). [url]
• NASA has successfully tested several components of a 3D-printed rocket engine, and it's well on the way to making an entire rocket engine from 3D printed parts. Nearly every rocket maker is using 3D printed parts -- SpaceX uses additive manufacturing for its Merlin rocket engines, and more traditional aerospace giants are no strangers to 3D printing. [url]
• The Portland State Aerospace Society (PSAS) is a student organization that has already launched an amateur rocket 3 miles high. We've mentioned other student rocket projects before (USC reached an altitude of 4 miles a while ago), and the Civilian Space eXploration Team (CSXT) made it to 72 miles up in 2004. [url]

After you've finished checking out those links, take a look at our Daily Deals for cool gadgets and other awesome stuff.

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