EOS supports Texas Rocket Engineering Laboratory to fuel additive manufactruing education

____ Austin, Texas, January 7, 2021

EOS, the world's leading technology supplier in the field of industrial 3D printing for metals and polymers, has announced its ongoing support for the Texas Rocket Engineering Lab (TREL) at The University of Texas (UT). EOS is providing TREL—a collegiate rocket laboratory committed to providing students the resources and guidance needed to succeed in the New Space Industry—with CAD training, professional counsel, material resources and 3D printing of advanced rocketry components that are lighter and allow for more complicated geometry than traditional machined parts.

These components will be mission critical to TREL’s Halcyon rocket—a 28-foot-tall liquid bipropellant rocket designed to fly to the edge of space —for the Base11 Space Challenge. The Base11 Challenge is an international competition that tasks student-led teams with launching a liquid-bipropellant, single-stage rocket to the Karman Line, which, at an altitude of 100 kilometers, would shatter the previous collegiate altitude record for a liquid bipropellant rocket by 30x. 

As the students take on this notable challenge, EOS will provide design and production support as TREL students work to produce the rocket’s “Havoc” engine— a regeneratively cooled, LOx–RP-1 fueled, state-of-the-art engine with a unique regenerative cooling geometry that has been configured for advanced additive manufacturing techniques. In addition to the Havoc engine powering the rocket, EOS will help produce aerodynamic fins to control Halcyon during flight.

"The space industry already relies heavily on 3D printing, and today’s university students are the pipeline to advancing the industry bringing with them both the knowledge necessary to thrive and the AM mindset to successfully engineer and create ideas never before possible. We decided long ago to play our part in supporting TREL and similar university teams across North America, helping ensure their success and providing them direct access to our AM expertise and technology – the most direct way we can augment their studies and projects."
Patrick Boyd, Marketing Director at EOS

EOS’ support has enabled TREL to undertake an ambitious design for Halcyon as well as furthered TREL’s greater mission to incubate the next generation of aerospace pioneers. EOS’ partnership with TREL represents its latest investment in its long-term mission to advance AM education. EOS is rapidly building partnerships and programs that deliver inspiration, awareness, and enablement to future AM creators – from elementary school students to university engineering teams to key decision makers on the front lines of the additive manufacturing revolution.

"Working on the EOS Havoc engine has been a highlight of my college experience. With EOS, I have been able to learn so much about advanced additive manufacturing capabilities and rocket engine fabrication, which are subjects you can’t learn in a classroom. By designing, building, and testing our own 3D prints, we are able to push forward the leading edge of rocket engine development."
Lauren Rodriguez, a third-year student at UT and lead propulsion engineer for TREL

About the Companies

EOS
EOS is the world's leading technology supplier in the field of industrial 3D printing of metals and polymers. Formed in 1989, the independent company is pioneer and innovator for comprehensive solutions in additive manufacturing. Its product portfolio of EOS systems, materials, and process parameters gives customers crucial competitive advantages in terms of product quality and the long-term economic sustainability of their manufacturing processes. Furthermore, EOS customers benefit from deep technical expertise in global service, applications engineering and consultancy.

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TREL
The Texas Rocket Engineering Lab (TREL) is an interdisciplinary research lab dedicated to fostering the next generation of aerospace pioneers in preparation for a new era of human space exploration. TREL was created in 2018 through an anonymous $1 million donation in partnership with Firefly Aerospace. By providing hands on experience in rocket engineering, project management, and business operations, TREL is training a new set of innovators who will push beyond what is possible and make space accessible for everyone.