3D printing Aerospace antenna

Manufacturing NextMaterials project

Spacecific is proud to announce its participation in the Manufacturing NextMaterials project, supported by Interreg. In collaboration with The Aviation AM Centre (AAMC), we aim to transition our flight-proven patch antenna, originally handcrafted for the REXUS 31 sounding rocket mission for into a design that can be produced using additive manufacturing (AM).

The antenna is a key component of Spacecific’s Track Your Rocket (TYR) system, a radio interferometry solution used to track and localize rockets in flight. While developed for sounding rockets, this technology has broader potential across the aerospace sector.

Space grade Additive Manufacturing

Spacecific will focus on adapting the existing antenna design to best utilize the advantages that additive manufacturing offers, whilst ensuring that performance and structural reliability remain uncompromised.

Our partner AAMC will lead the development of a reproducible, aerospace-grade AM process for producing the antenna. This involves selecting and qualifying high-performance polymers such as PEKK and PEEK with integrated metallization methods.

The redesigned antenna will undergo structural and RF testing, followed by a flight test on a sounding rocket to validate the complete production route.

Strengthening Cross-Border Innovation

The Manufacturing NextMaterials project is carried out within the framework of the Interreg VI Germany–Netherlands program and is co-financed by the European Union, the MWIKE NRW, the Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Bundes-und Europaangelegenheiten und Regionale Entwicklung, het Ministerie van Economische Zaken, and the provinces of Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel, Flevoland, Gelderland, and Noord Brabant.