Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ:MNTS) shares jumped 44.1% in premarket trading on Monday after the company disclosed progress on a newly developed 3D-printed fuel tank created in partnership with Velo3D.
The U.S.-based commercial space company said the additively manufactured tank is slated for flight testing on its upcoming Vigoride-7 Orbital Service Vehicle mission. The component was produced using Velo3D’s metal additive manufacturing technology, which enables highly complex designs that are difficult or impractical to produce using conventional fabrication techniques.
Momentus said the fuel tank was engineered to optimize performance while taking advantage of Velo3D’s end-to-end manufacturing solution. The company plans to leverage this capability to enter new markets as a certified supplier of space-grade fuel tanks—components that are typically expensive and associated with long production lead times.
“Testing an additively manufactured fuel tank on Vigoride-7 is a major achievement for Momentus and a testament to the strength of our partnership with Velo3D,” said John Rood, Chief Executive Officer of Momentus. “Additive manufacturing opens new possibilities for spacecraft design and production, and this successful demonstration paves the way for broader adoption across our future missions.”
By incorporating additive manufacturing into its supply chain, Momentus aims to lower costs, accelerate development timelines and improve the robustness of its spacecraft platforms. The company provides satellite buses and integration services, satellite components, as well as in-space transportation and infrastructure solutions.