Bright Laser Technologies (BLT) and COSATS are advancing space exploration together while combining 3D printing with Commercial Aerospace.
Founded in 2019, COSATS specializes in SmallSats and CubeSat research and commercialization. Notably, in 2022 COSATS’ COSPOD was selected into the international CubeSat Design Specifications Rev14.1, making it the only Chinese team to contribute to this global standard in over a decade of its publication and revisions.
In 2020, COSATS launched COSPOD-3D, a CubeSat deployer 3D printed by BLT. The deployer was printed in one piece with high-strength aluminum. BLT also reduced the satellite deployer weight by 50% and cut production time from months to a week.
COSPOD-3D CubeSat deployer (Courtesy COSATS)
The following year saw the launch of the Agile Testbed, designed for various space experiments. Using the 3-laser BLT-S400, BLT created the main frame in one piece. The part underwent 24-hour internal processing, including post-processing, machining, and anodization. The entire project took only eight days to complete.
2023 marked another milestone with the Dalian-1 Lianli project. It serves as a testbed for multiple new technologies. It validates an OpenHarmony-based real-time operating system and a 3D-printed ultra-lightweight SmallSats satellite deployer, among other things.
Using AlSi10Mg alloy and the 8-laser BLT-S800, BLT rapidly produced parts meeting strict requirements. The parts withstand extreme temperatures, vacuum, and corrosion, ensuring reliable long-term storage and deployment in orbit.
Pictures taken by Dalian-1 Lianli （Courtesy: Dalian University of Technology）
BLT’s influence in the commercial space continues to grow. It now works with over 30 clients in the sector. BLT’s services cover technical consulting, machines and systems, and materials.
The partnership between BLT and COSATS showcases the potential of 3D printing in space technology. Both companies are looking to the future with ambitious goals, representing a significant step forward for the global commercial aerospace industry.
