# Fabricating the "impossible" rocket engines at NASA

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabricating-the-impossible-rocket-engines-at-nasa/983383>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 30, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabricating-the-impossible-rocket-engines-at-nasa/983383 "2023-04-30T20:13:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
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**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabricating-the-impossible-rocket-engines-at-nasa/983383/1 "2023-04-30T20:13:34Z")

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I have tried to explain several times over the years how the Rocket Engine Test Facility at NASA Lewis developed the electroplated-to-solid combustion chambers. Here is a YouTube video about the process: [NASA's clever technique to make combustion chambers - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4YZxb2E5PA)

here is an overview of the RETF: [https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/historic-facilities/rocket-engine-test-facility/origins-of-the-retf/](https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/historic-facilities/rocket-engine-test-facility/origins-of-the-retf/)

Here is the gang I worked with. The man on the far left with the Dutch boy haircut is George Repas, one of the main inventors of this process. I was still a technician at this time before I got my engineering degree. On the far right was Ed, our lead technician. We called our team Eddie and the Cruisers. [https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/historic-facilities/rocket-engine-test-facility/retf-staff/](https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/historic-facilities/rocket-engine-test-facility/retf-staff/)