German startup turns race-car carbon tech into ultralight tanks for space rockets

German startup Blackwave, a spin-off from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), has developed ultralight carbon-fiber high-pressure tanks designed for space rockets. These tanks can withstand operating pressures of up to 420 bars and endure aggressive fuels and temperature fluctuations from -50 to 120 degrees Celsius. Originating from race-car carbon-fiber technology, the tanks offer a significant advancement over traditional heavy, spherical steel tanks used in rockets. Their bottle-shaped design is easier to integrate into fuel systems, chemically inert with fuels, and much lighter and more flexible. Founder Bastian Behrens, inspired by his background in race-car components and passion for aerospace, identified that carbon fibers excel under tensile stress, making them ideal for pressure tanks. The ultralight tanks help maintain rocket structural integrity during flight by releasing noble gases from internal secondary tanks to fill empty spaces as primary fuel tanks deplete. This innovation could provide aerospace engineers with greater design freedom and reduce weight, potentially transforming rocket tank design and