Image: (APA/AFP/HANDOUT)
The “Terran 1” intended for departure from Cape Canaveral in the US state of Florida is in good condition, said the owner, the Californian space startup Relativity Space, on Twitter. The unmanned rocket’s engines had already been fired when a problem with the “automation” forced the company into an initial abort. A little later, the company rejected another attempt to start due to pressure problems. Relativity Space continued: “More information about the new start date will follow.”
After launch, Terran 1 is expected to reach low Earth orbit in eight minutes. The goal of the first test flight is to collect data and show that a 3D printed rocket can withstand the pressures of launch and travel.
85 percent of the rocket’s mass was 3D printed from metal alloys. According to the operating company, “Terran 1” is the largest object ever produced with a 3D printer.
“In the longer term, a major benefit of 3D printing is its ability to more rapidly democratize spaceflight due to its incredible cost-effectiveness, radical flexibility, and customization,” states Relativity Space. A rocket made in this way can be made from raw materials in just 60 days.
Source: Nachrichten
