Niocorp Developments Ltd (NB)

[Landmark8211111]

Niobium-based alloys are used on "Space x rocket engines.


The Kestrel engine is an LOX/RP-1 pressure-fed rocket engine. The Kestrel engine was developed in the 2000s by SpaceX for upper stage use on the Falcon 1 rocket.

Kestrel was built around the same pintle architecture as the SpaceX Merlin engine but does not have a turbo-pump and is fed only by tank pressure.

Kestrel is ablatively cooled in the chamber and throat and radiatively cooled in the nozzle, which is fabricated from a high strength niobium alloy. As a metal, niobium is highly resistant to cracking compared to carbon-carbon. According to SpaceX, an impact from orbital debris or during stage separation might dent the metal but have no meaningful effect on engine performance.[4] Helium pressurant efficiency is substantially increased via a titanium heat exchanger on the ablative/niobium boundary.[5]


https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/234925-the-state-of-the-art-in-applied-materials-in-space-explained

P.S it wouldn't be a big stretch to see the "DoD" acquire the remaining 25% of niobium and 100% of our titanium - and "Bloom Energy" off taking 50% of the scandium! JMO

GLTA