Relativity Space's much-anticipated test flight of its 3D-printed rocket, Terran, ended in failure on Wednesday night, March 22, according to a report by AP.
The rocket was meant to carry the company's first metal 3D print made six years ago into a 125-mile-high (200-kilometer-high) orbit for several days before burning up during re-entry.
However, the upper stage of the rocket malfunctioned, causing it to crash into the Atlantic Ocean only three minutes into the flight, far short of orbit.
The company had come within a half-second of blasting off earlier this month, with the rocket's engines igniting before abruptly shutting down.
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - MARCH 2: In this handout image provided by NASA, a five-minute long exposure shows a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASAs SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren "Woody" Hoburg, UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev onboard,at the Kennedy Space Center on March 02, 2023 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Game-changer for Space Exploration
Relativity Space had hoped the 110-foot (33-meter) rocket, made almost entirely of 3D-printed parts from the company's huge 3D printers in Long Beach, California, would be a game-changer for space exploration.
The space company believes that 3D printing could revolutionize the industry by reducing costs and enabling rapid prototyping, leading to more accessible and sustainable space travel.
Terran's metal parts were 85% 3D-printed, and larger versions of the rocket will be reusable for various flights.
The company's founders, who are both young aerospace engineers, founded Relativity Space in 2015, and the startup has since attracted the interest of various investors and venture capitalists.
The launch commentator, Arwa Tizani Kelly, said after Wednesday's launch that even though the mission did not reach orbit, maiden launches are always exciting, and this flight was no exception.
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Adopting 3D Printing in the Space Sector
Several space companies have also adopted 3D printing in their rockets, but the parts make up only a small part of their rockets, as noted by AP.
Relativity Space's approach is unique, and the company is leading the charge for a new era of space exploration. The failure of Terran's test flight is undoubtedly a setback for the company, but it is also an opportunity to learn from their mistakes and make the necessary adjustments for future launches.
Even though the test flight of Relativity Space's 3D-printed rocket, Terran, ended in failure, the company remains optimistic about the potential of 3D printing in space exploration.
According to Relativity Space, 3D printing could revolutionize the sector by lowering costs and facilitating rapid prototyping, resulting in more sustainable and accessible space travel.
The failed debut launch presents a chance for them to evaluate their performance and improve their approach for future missions.
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