3D-printed rocket by Startup Relativity failed to reach orbit despite a stunning night launch

Relativity Space, a 3D printing specialist, launched its Terran 1 rocket late Wednesday night. The rocket accomplished certain mission goals before falling short of orbit.

From the U.S. spaceport's LC-16 launchpad, Terran 1 took off. The Cape Canaveral Space Force complex in Florida took off and flew for three minutes. The second stage of the rocket, which is the larger, lower section known as the booster, is separated from the first stage. This is the point of maximum air pressure during an orbital launch, known as Max Q. However, the rocket's engine sputtered and shut down soon after.

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Clay Walker, the director of the Relativity launch, acknowledged that there was an "anomaly" with the upper stage. After examining flight data, the company said it would provide "updates over the following days."

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The "Good Luck, Have Fun" mission represented a significant advancement for the business even if it fell short of orbit and helped show the sustainability of its ambitious production strategy.

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Although many space firms use additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, Relativity is going all-in on the tactic.

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The company claims that its system, which uses thousands fewer parts and enables adjustments via software, will make orbital-class rocket construction much faster than conventional approaches. The Long Beach, Californi-based company wants to build rockets in 60 days from scratch.

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With nine engines powering the lower first stage and one engine powering the top second stage, Terran 1 is 110 feet tall. The rocket's Aeon engines are 3D-printed, and its two fuel sources are liquid oxygen and liquid natural gas. This original Terran 1 rocket had 85% 3D-printed components.

Terran 1 costs $12 million per launch according to Relativity. To travel to low Earth orbit, it carries around 1,250 kilos. This places Terran 1 between SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Rocket Lab's Electron in the "medium lift" segment of the American launch market based on price and capability.

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Relativity stressed that the launch was only a prototype and did not include a payload or satellite within the rocket for the first launch

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The Terran R line of larger, reusable rockets, the Terran 1's replacement, is already in development at Relativity.

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At a valuation of $4.2 billion, the company has raised over $1.3 billion in financing. It has facilities in Mississippi for testing engines, Florida for the launch site, and California for its headquarters and production.