![]() ![]() But the company is developing something much larger and more powerful. The expendable Terran 1, which is powered by nine of Relativity Space's Aeon engines in its first stage and one in its upper stage, can deliver up to 2,756 pounds (1,250 kg) to LEO, according to Relativity Space (opens in new tab). (Beijing-based company Landspace's Zhuque-2, a methalox rocket, launched in December 2022 but failed to reach orbit.) It will be the first U.S.-developed "methalox" rocket to attempt an orbital launch, and it could be the first such vehicle worldwide to reach orbit. ![]() The Terran 1 uses methane as a propellant and liquid oxygen as an oxidizer. (Image credit: Relativity Space/Trevor Mahlmann)Ĭalifornia-based Relativity Space was founded in 2016 by Tim Ellis and Jordan Noone, both of whom had worked at Blue Origin. Relativity Space's first Terran 1 rocket on the pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The Terran 1 won't deploy anything even if it does make it to LEO the rocket isn't carrying a viable payload, just a commemorative 3D-printed metal ring that weighs about 3.3 pounds (1.5 kilograms), according to (opens in new tab). Getting all the way to low Earth orbit (LEO), they added, "would be a total home run." "Max-Q is the point where the structural loads on the vehicle are the highest, making it one of the most challenging phases of flight, so passing this milestone would effectively demonstrate that 3D-printed rockets are structurally viable, in addition to already successfully completing acceptance testing on the ground at our factory at these max stresses." "As for flight success, safely clearing the pad, getting out over the ocean and passing Max-Q would be a big inflection point for today's launch," Relativity Space representatives told via email. One key goal of Saturday's test flight, therefore, is to show that the vehicle is robust enough to handle the rigors of launch. ![]() This first Terran 1 is about 85% 3D-printed by mass, though the company aims to boost that to 95% on future vehicles. GLHF is a landmark mission for Relativity Space, and for spaceflight technology in general: The two-stage Terran 1 is the first rocket ever built primarily via 3D printing. ![]()
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