SMall Innovative Launcher for Europe (SMILE) Completed

Airborne has completed their contribution to the European Commission Horizon 2020 project called SMall Innovative Launcher for Europe (SMILE). From 2016 on, participants together have been designing a launcher for satellites up to 50 kg and the manufacturing of cost-effective solutions. Airborne develops affordable composite structures for small launchers. For the manufacturing smart automation was applied: low CAPEX, flexible, scalable and transferable robotic solutions. In order to keep the payload capacity for the upper stage of SMILE as high as possible, the launcher is made from lightweight composite materials. In order to lower the manufacturing cost, the production should be automated as much as possible. Airborne’s contribution to the project was to develop a structural concept for a small launcher together with new and innovative automation technology, in order to manufacture these structures. For identifying growth opportunities for Composites in Global Aerospace Market, please visit http://www.lucintel.com/composites-in-aerospace-market-2017.aspx