Launch of the world’s first 3D-printed rocket
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The Terran 1 light launch vehicle, which launched on Thursday, was unable to enter orbit due to a second-stage engine failure. This was reported by the American company-developer Relativity Space.
85% of the rocket’s components are 3D printed. The launch of the world’s first 3D-printed rocket, previously delayed twice due to technical problems, was carried out from the launch pad LC-16 at the US Space Forces base at Cape Canaveral (Florida). After four minutes of flight, the Terran 1’s second stage engine failed. The rocket was supposed to reach an orbit with a height of 200-210 km.
The 33-meter two-stage rocket is equipped with 9 Aeon engines on the first stage and one on the second, also created using 3D printers. They use methane as fuel and liquid oxygen as an oxidizer.
The use of 3D printing technology has been proven to speed up the construction of rockets by up to two months and significantly reduce their cost.
Terran 1 claims to be the first methane rocket to be launched into orbit. In the future, it will be able to launch up to 1250 kg of cargo into low Earth orbits. The cost of one launch of a light rocket is estimated at about $12 million.
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