Relativity Space prepares for first launch of additively manufactured Terran 1 rocket
Relativity Space, Long Beach, California, USA, is preparing for the first launch of its Terran 1 additively manufactured rocket. The launch, which has been called “GLHF” (Good Luck, Have Fun), is scheduled to take place from Launch Complex 16 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, this summer.
The company states that as a two-stage, 34 m tall and 2.3 m wide expendable rocket, Terran 1 is the largest additively manufactured object to attempt orbital flight. Working towards its goal of being 95% additively manufactured, Relativity’s first Terran 1 vehicle is 85% additively manufactured by mass. Terran 1 has nine Aeon engines in its first stage, and one Aeon Vac in its second stage.
Like its structure, all Relativity engines are said to be entirely additively manufactured and use liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid natural gas (LNG), which the company states is not only the best for rocket propulsion, but also for reusability, and the easiest to eventually transition to methane on Mars.
The launch will be available to livestream via Relativity Space’s YouTube.
