Orbex shows off two-stage Prime rocket built with world's largest 3D printed engine

UK built Prime rocket is made from a special carbon fibre and aluminium composite material, and uses environmental friendly bio-propane fuel

UK-based space firm Orbex unveiled its Prime rocket on Thursday - featuring the world's largest 3-D printed engine.

Orbex's 17-metre tall Prime rocket, is intended to deliver small satellites into Earth's orbit. The two-stage rocket is made from a special carbon fibre and aluminium composite material.

To create the rocket's 3D printed engine, Orbex partnered with additive maker SLM Solutions, and they were able to produce a unique single piece engine without joints or welded parts.

According to Orbex, Prime launchers are about 20 per cent more efficient and 30 per cent lighter than any other launcher in the small rocket category.

Prime is also the first rocket engine created by a private firm to use bio-propane as fuel. Bio-propane is a renewable, clean-burning fuel, and can cut carbon emissions by up to 90 per cent compared to other fossil hydrocarbon fuels.

The engineering team that designed Prime rocket includes professionals who have worked in the past for NASA, the European Space Agency, and on France's Ariane rocket project.

Most parts of the Prime rocket are built at Orbex's production facilities in Germany and Denmark. The assembly of the rocket expected to be launched in 2023 will be completed at Forres before it is transported to A'Mhoine, the rocket launching site currently under construction.

"Plans for a spaceport in Sutherland have already attracted significant investment, and Orbex's rocket design facility will bring more than 100 new jobs to the Scottish Highlands region - this is our modern Industrial Strategy in action," claimed business secretary Greg Clark.

Orbex has also announced that it has been selected by Swiss-based Astrocast SA for launching of 10 nanosatellites by 2023.

Astrocast plans to send these nanosatellites in space to support its global Internet of Things network, which will be made up of 64 CubeSats. The network will provide data communication services at affordable prices to people living in the world's remotest areas.