Ansys' multiphysics simulation solutions advance The
Exploration Company's next-generation green propulsion
system
/ Key Highlights
- Ansys Startup Program customer The Exploration Company uses
Ansys solutions to develop Nyx, its orbital logistics vehicle that
uses a revolutionary methane-based propellant for sustainable space
exploration
- With Ansys multiphysics and materials data management
solutions, engineers seamlessly model the Nyx propulsion, engine,
and body to support a broad scope of missions planned between 2024
and 2028
PITTSBURGH, April 4,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Space logistics startup The
Exploration Company is advancing sustainable space exploration by
leveraging Ansys (NASDAQ: ANSS) simulation solutions to
develop its modular and reusable space vehicle, Nyx. With a
revolutionary methane-based propulsion system, Nyx will begin by
flying to stations in Earth's orbit to deliver technologies for
advanced research in areas such as microgravity, which has
applications in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries,
among others.
Spacecraft propulsion systems are designed to withstand extreme
loads and high thermal and pressure variables, without adding
significant weight to the vehicle's overall mass. Conventional
turbo engines are heavy and rely on fossil fuels, posing
sustainability challenges and range limitations as the space
industry intensifies launch activity and deeper space exploration.
Methane propulsion systems offer a potential solution — emitting
fewer pollutants, extending travel capabilities, and achieving more
predictively accurate landings because they are more agile and
easier to navigate.
Nyx is designed to carry cargo to and from the Moon and space
stations, free fly around Earth, re-fuel in orbit, and re-enter
Earth's atmosphere before embarking on future missions. The
building blocks of Nyx are openly available to a wide array of
aerospace companies to support the transition from gas- to
electric-powered travel — not only democratizing space exploration
but improving its sustainability.
The Exploration Company leverages Ansys solutions to fine
tune engine and body specifications and speed development time for
the reusable orbital vehicle. The team uses Ansys Fluent™ and
Ansys Mechanical™ to optimize the design of propellant pumps
and the overall engine layout, supporting systems that meet
technical requirements for performance and durability.
Additionally, Thermal Desktop™ plays a crucial role in the
thermal design of Nyx, while Ansys Granta™ helps source and manage
material data, driving simulation accuracy, reducing material
costs, and lowering project risk.
"Through the Ansys Startup Program, we can answer critical
design questions in the early stages of our engines' development,"
said Sebastien Reichstadt, lead
propulsion engineer at The Exploration Company. "Ansys' proven
high-fidelity simulation and interactive modeling allow us to
quickly conduct iterative designs and prototyping up to validation.
Only with Ansys simulation can we ensure that the propulsion
systems of Nyx will meet the stringent requirements of spaceflight
and reusability."
"Efficient, eco-friendly propulsion is the next milestone in
exploring the cosmos with greater precision," said Walt Hearn, senior vice president of worldwide
sales and customer excellence at Ansys. "In an industry that has
many obstacles to physical prototyping, Ansys provides mission
critical technology that empowers customers like The Exploration
Company to strongly correlate simulation results with
real-world data before ever going out into space. This results in a
significant reduction in project costs and accelerates the timeline
for unlocking the mysteries of deep space."
To learn more about Ansys multiphysics simulation solutions and
its role in Space 2.0, visit Ansys at Space Symposium, April 8-11 in Booth #1049.
/ About Ansys
Our Mission: Powering Innovation that Drives Human
Advancement™
When visionary companies need to know how their world-changing
ideas will perform, they close the gap between design and reality
with Ansys simulation. For more than 50 years, Ansys software has
enabled innovators across industries to push boundaries by using
the predictive power of simulation. From sustainable transportation
to advanced semiconductors, from satellite systems to life-saving
medical devices, the next great leaps in human advancement will be
powered by Ansys.
Ansys and any and all ANSYS, Inc. brand, product, service and
feature names, logos and slogans are registered trademarks or
trademarks of ANSYS, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States or other countries. All
other brand, product, service and feature names or trademarks are
the property of their respective owners.
ANSS–C
/ Contacts
Media
|
Mary Kate
Joyce
|
|
724.820.4368
|
|
marykate.joyce@ansys.com
|
|
|
Investors
|
Kelsey DeBriyn
|
|
724.820.3927
|
|
kelsey.debriyn@ansys.com
|
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-exploration-company-leverages-ansys-to-promote-sustainability-in-space-302107538.html
SOURCE Ansys