SSL Launches Partially 3D Printed Satellite

[Clare S]

JCSAT-110A, formerly known as JCSAT-15, was launched into space in December 2016 at the request of Japan's SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation. This week, Space Systems Loral (SSL), the California-based manufacturer of JCSAT-110A, announced that the satellite has completed its in-orbit testing and is performing as expected. That's not the biggest news, though - SSL has also confirmed that JCSAT-110A is equipped with the first antenna tower that the company designed using additive manufacturing and other advanced design and manufacturing methods. The JCSAT-110A launch was also the launch of a new manufacturing era for SSL, which will continue to use advanced design and manufacturing technology in its three-decades-old 1300 Series Satellite Platform. Read more at 3DPrint.com: http://3dprint.com/167418/jcsat-110-a-space-systems-loral/ ‎

[mcmigovych]

Anyone know what the qualification process is for printed parts? Has any agency or group released documents that detail how to qualify 3D printed parts out of titanium, steel, and aluminum? I'm imagining it's closer to composites machined metals.