Spaceflight Workshop

Building the Foundation for Future Use Cases

As part of the Digital AM Start initiative, we hosted a joint workshop together with Digital Additive Production DAP - RWTH Aachen. The workshop brought together a well-balanced group of experts from aerospace engineering, materials science, mathematics and engineering. Participants included representatives from DAP, ITA Institut für Textiltechnik der RWTH Aachen University, the Institut für Strukturmechanik und Leichtbau (SLA) @ RWTH Aachen University, the Chair of Algebra and Representation Theory, and GSI – Gesellschaft für Systementwicklung und Instrumentierung. This diverse expertise enabled a broad and complementary perspective on early-stage concepts.

The aim was to identify potential applications of additive manufacturing in spaceflight, analyse their associated challenges and, where possible, outline initial solution approaches. The discussions highlighted several promising directions, including faster design iterations, functionally integrated lightweight structures and flexible production routes.

The consolidated overview provides a focused starting point for further technical exchange and illustrates the potential that aerospace and additive manufacturing can unlock through close collaboration and shared problem-solving. We look forward to seeing how these ideas evolve in the next phases of the cooperation.

A recent Handelsblatt publication underscores the essential role universities play in advancing low to mid-TRL innovation and enabling effective research-industry transfer. Find the full interview with Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Riesener and Dr. Lucas Jauer here.