Additive Manufacturing in Space Applications: EOS Supports Portal Space as a Technology Enabler
07 JULY, 2026 | Reading time: 6 min
Additive Manufacturing (AM) is playing an increasingly relevant role in space‑related engineering projects, particularly where complex geometries, functional integration, and iterative development are required. A current example is the collaboration between EOS and Portal Space, which develops and tests rocket engine systems using an application‑oriented engineering approach.
Portal Space is a Norwegian interdisciplinary student group working on the design, manufacturing, and validation of space‑related hardware. As the team dived into the world of liquid fueled propulsion concepts, the development of a reliable combustion chamber became one of the most critical and technically demanding tasks within the project. Combustion chambers operate under extreme thermal and mechanical loads, with temperatures approaching the melting point of the material, making conventional manufacturing and reuse particularly challenging.
Significant development effort, including an academic thesis, was invested in Portal Space’s first combustion chamber design. Nevertheless, resulting chambers were unreliable with many imperfections from the hand-welding production process, which was initially accepted for the project but represented one of its key technical uncertainties. A decisive shift occurred with the introduction of metal Additive Manufacturing through the collaboration with EOS. In addition to design and process support, EOS also provided Portal Space with free access to the Additive Minds Academy, including educational content. This helped to build foundational knowledge in laser powder bed fusion and enabled Portal Space to develop an AM-suitable design for their first engine version.
By enabling the production of a combustion chamber in the nickel‑based superalloy Inconel 718, EOS contributed both AM expertise and manufacturing capacity. In addition to design and process support, EOS produced two additively manufactured combustion chamber units, enabling a more robust and systematic validation strategy. The first additively manufactured chamber was delivered for initial hot-fire testing, followed by a second unit incorporating targeted design modifications based on the test results. This iterative approach enabled a more structured validation process and highlights how additive manufacturing can support rapid design refinements between testing cycles.
Project NANSEN
The collaboration takes place within Project NANSEN, Portal Space’s current development program. The NANSEN rocket will be the organization’s first attempt at a launch and has therefore omitted carrying any payload. This was decided, to increase the chances for a successful launch.
Portal Space is developing a liquid rocket engine operating on ethanol and liquid oxygen, with nitrogen used as a pressurant. The engine features swirl injectors, a regeneratively cooled combustion chamber, and Laval nozzle. The combustion chamber itself was manufactured using metal Additive Manufacturing in collaboration with EOS.
Validation Under Realistic Conditions
With mechanical preparation completed, the additively manufactured combustion chamber has entered a structured test program as part of the overall propulsion system. Initial validation activities focused on characterizing the flow behavior in the chamber’s internal cooling channels using water‑based tests. These were followed by cryogenic testing with liquid nitrogen to assess performance and structural behavior at low temperatures.
The findings and experience gained from the hot fire testing in Fall 2025 were used to optimize the engine design. A second iteration for the final launch configuration was again produced at EOS. As the team enters the final quarter of the two‑year development program, a launch in Summer 2026 is targeted.
AM as an Enabler for Complex Space Hardware
From EOS’ perspective, the collaboration illustrates how AM can support space engineering by enabling functional integration, advanced cooling concepts, and iterative development and testing framework. Combustion chambers, with their complex internal features and extreme operating environments, are a typical example of components where AM‑based design approaches can add tangible value.
“Projects like this demonstrate how Additive Manufacturing can contribute to the development and testing of highly demanding components for space applications. The real value lies not in the part itself, but in how additively manufactured components enable functional integration, iterative design, and system‑level testing under application‑relevant conditions. It is this combination of design freedom, process understanding, and validation within the complete engine system that makes AM a powerful enabler for complex space hardware.”
Michael Wohlfart, Team Manager Additive Minds Business Development and Academy.
Portal Space also highlights the collaboration as a key learning experience in applying metal AM in practice.
“We gained extensive insight into metal Additive Manufacturing throughout the project, and this collaboration marked a turning point for the project. The online courses provided a strong foundation for discussing our first AM design together with EOS, while the close exchange with the Additive Minds team proved highly valuable. This experience will not only support our own future developments but also contribute to building knowledge and capabilities within the Norwegian space community.”
Hector Ignacio Pena Apablaza, Chairman at Portal Space.
