PSI - Issue 53

Stefania Franchitti et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 53 (2024) 397–406 Author name / Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2019) 000 – 000

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Fig. 1. Space Rider Mission Scenario.

2. Building block approach The qualification procedure of both the inner and outer flap supports of the BFA was performed according to the ESA standard ECCS-Q-ST-70-80C that specifies the processing and quality assurance requirements for the different types of Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) Additive Manufacturing processes for Metallic Materials for space flight applications. Basically, there are three phases: the AM definition phase, the verification phase and the hardware production phase. Within the AM definition phase, hardware requirements are reviewed and compared with AM manufacturing constraints, allowing for an early assessment of the feasibility of the envisaged AM project. The aim of the verification phase is to verify the AM end-to-end process through a dedicated test campaign on powder, specimen and part level. In other words, the qualification activities within the verification phase are performed according to building block approach of Fig. 2, starting on powder level, moving then to a specimen level and concluding at prototype level. Finally, in the hardware production phase, the hardware is produced.

Fig. 2. Building block approach for the verification phase.