The world’s largest rocket launched from a 3D printer – that’s what their builders say

California’s space-start company Relativity Space’s rocket failed to make it to Earth’s planned orbit on its first test flight: “Terran 1” lifted off the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Wednesday (local time), as the video broadcast showed. However, it did not reach the desired height.

There was an “anomaly” in the second part of the flight, according to the live stream distributed by the operating company Relativity Space.

After launch, “Terran 1” was supposed to enter low Earth orbit within eight minutes. This didn’t work. The purpose of the first test flight was to collect data and show that a 3D-printed rocket can withstand the pressures of launch and travel.

The commentators were nevertheless pleased with the rocket launch. This provides “invaluable” data that the team is now analyzing further.

In a statement published on Twitter, the company spoke of a great success despite the failure:

85 percent of the rocket’s mass was 3D printed from metal alloys. Nine first-stage Aeon engines would be powered by liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The launch proved that Relativity’s 3D-printed rocket technology works. Next, the California space startup plans to launch the two-stage, fully reusable Terran R launch vehicle.

According to Relativity Space, “Terran 1” is the largest object ever produced with a 3D printer.

(dsc/sda/afp)