NASA is employing new-age engineering technologies to drastically cut down its development and manufacturing time and costs.

The space agency have used the additive manufacturing process known as 3D-printing to build a working rocket engine nozzle, tests have confirmed the unit is functional. It was created with about a 70 per cent reduction in cost from the normal method and in less than half the time.

A series of test-firings of the liquid oxygen and gaseous hydrogen rocket injector assembly demonstrated the ability to make highly critical engine components using selective laser melting manufacturing technology. The injector was designed and fabricated by a method that employs high-powered laser beams to melt and fuse fine metallic powders into three dimensional structures.

Michael Gazarik, NASA's associate administrator for space technology in Washington said “3-D manufacturing offers opportunities to optimize the fit, form and delivery systems of materials that will enable our space missions while directly benefiting businesses here on Earth... NASA recognizes that on Earth and potentially in space, additive manufacturing can be game-changing for new mission opportunities, significantly reducing production time and cost by 'printing' tools, engine parts or even entire spacecraft.”

The successful hot-firing of the injector has shown researchers the real possibility of developing full-size, additively manufactured parts.

Information on all of NASA’s current technological projects is available here.