Although the world’s first 3D printed rocket was launched Wednesday night, it failed to orbit during a crucial test flight conducted by an aerospace startup in California.
Relativity Space’s Terran 1 rocket lifted off at 11.25 p.m. ET from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Mission controllers reported that the rocket suffered an anomaly with its upper-stage shortly after it took off. This prevented it from reaching orbit. The rocket’s upper stage is designed for the ignition of separate engines during flight to propel it into space.
On its first flight, the Terran 1 rocket did not carry any cargo or satellites. The test mission, called “Good Luck, Have Fun”, was created to allow engineers to observe how the booster performs at launch and during its journey into space.
“No one has ever tried to launch a 3D printed rocket into orbit. And while we didn’t make it all of the way today,” Arwa Tizani Kelley, Relativity Space’s test and launch technical program manager, stated during live commentary.
The anomaly was not described in any other detail. Officials from the company stated that engineering teams would analyze the flight data in the coming days to determine what caused the anomaly.
Relativity officials believe 3D printing may make it more affordable to build rockets, space capsules, and other components for missions beyond.
Although rockets have been successfully 3D printed parts have already flown into space, Relativity’s booster was the first to be almost entirely 3D printed.
According to Relativity, approximately 85% of the rocket’s 110-foot height, including its nine engines was 3D-printed. Relativity stated that future versions will be 95% 3D printed and fully reusable.
Technical problems with the booster caused delays in the launch of Terran 1’s maiden rocket. After an issue with the rocket’s second-stage propellant temperature, the company had to stop its first attempt this year. After two last-minute cancellations at the launch pad, a second attempt was cancelled .
Relativity Space was established in 2015 and is located in Long Beach, California. Terran 1 is capable of carrying up to 2,756 lbs into low-Earth orbit. Officials from the company claim that their 3D-printed boosters can be used to launch small commercial satellites into orbit at a low cost.
