Science. Postponement of the launch of the first 3D printed rocket – Publimetro México

Madrid, 9 (Europe Press)

Relativity Space’s Terran 1 launch vehicle, billed as the world’s first 3D-printed rocket, experienced an automatic shutdown about 70 seconds before the initial launch attempt at 1940 UTC on March 8 at the launch pad in Florida, on Cape Canaveral Station. satellite.

“Today’s Terran 1 launch attempt was canceled due to exceeding the launch compliance criteria limits for the thermal conditions of the second stage propellant,” Relativity Space said in a statement.

The team is working on selling a new launch. The company added, “When using LNG, the methane needs time to reach the right concentration. That’s why our next attempt will be in a few days.”

85 percent 3D printed

The first Terran 1 mission from Relativity Space is a test flight of a 33-meter rocket designed to launch small satellites into low Earth orbit. The two-stage rocket is new in that 85 percent of its structure by mass is 3D-printed, including nine Aeon-1 engines for the first stage, which is fueled by liquid methane.

Terran 1 is designed to carry payloads of up to 1,250 kilograms to low Earth orbit and can carry 900 kilograms to solar synchronous orbit at a cost of about $12 million per flight, according to Relativity Space. The company is also working on a larger, fully reusable rocket called the Terran R, designed to measure 66 meters high and launch more than 20 tons into orbit with Aeon-R engines starting in 2024.