Dawn achieve world's first qualification of a 3D printed pressure vessel to ECSS standards

The 3D printed pressure vessels used in Dawn’s CubeSat Propulsion Modules have successfully passed the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ECSS qualification standards.

Dawn’s 3D printed pressure vessels were the first in-kind to pass such tests, making this a world-first. The qualifications were complete ahead of the in-orbit demonstration aboard the ION Mk-I satellite.

This marks a major step towards delivering performance to green small satellite propulsion systems historically only capable with the highly-toxic hydrazine and a big leap forward for use of 3D printed structures in space