The World’s First 3D Printed Rocket | Terran 1 from Relativity Space

Introduction

The Terran 1 makes history by being the first 3D-printed rocket to be launched, in this article I will give you all the most important details about this rocket and its mission to conquer space.

Terran 1 making history in the aerospace industry

Now we can print rockets. Terran 1 is a two-stage, non-reusable launch system developed by the Relativity Space company.

Relativity Space is a private space company, which seeks to promote the implementation of robotics and artificial intelligence in rocket manufacturing.

The world’s first 3D printed rocket

Terran 1 is the first rocket in the history of space exploration to be 3D printed and launched successfully, specifically Terran 1 was 85% printed, the company’s goal is to reach more than 95% even, so it continues being a great feat.

First Methalox engine to reach Orbit But Fail it.

In addition to that, the Terran 1 had a liquid fuel engine based on liquid methane and oxygen, betting to become the First Methalox fuel engine to reach orbit.

Unfortunately, he fails in this feat after a second stage engine problem

Liquid methane as fuel is one of the most innovative applications in rocket propulsion.

This presents much more efficient characteristics in terms of combustion, density, and amount of specific impulse with respect to its predecessor and which is currently the most widely used, liquid hydrogen.

If you want to know more about rocket fuel, we have a perfect article for you, click here. In it, I explain the fundamental basis of rocket fuels.

The only launch system with the possibility of also achieving this historic act is SpaceX’s StarShip system. Which is eagerly awaiting its release.

First 3D-printed rocket to surpass Max Q

Despite not reaching orbit, the launch of Terran 1 is still a successful mission, as there was one more test at stake that had to be passed, the Max Q point.

Max Q is the point where a rocket structure undergoes the greatest mechanical stress during its ascent trajectory.

Any rocket that manages to pass this point without having structural damage makes it a viable system, and for a 3D printed rocket this is the most important value to exceed to consider it structurally functional.

The Terran 1 successfully passed the Max Q point, ushering in the era of fully viable 3D-printed rockets.

Structure and Design

Now let’s talk about the structural features of this whole innovative launch system.

Two Stage Launch System

This launch system has two stages, the first of which has 9 Aeon 1 liquid fuel engines.

The second stage has a single engine called Aeon Vacum, the term vacum refers to the fact that the engine is specifically made to be fired in empty space in the second stage.

This engine fired successfully in the second stage, but later had major failures, which prevented the rest of the rocket from reaching orbit.

10 engines. All 3D-printed

As if that were not enough, its 10 engines were also mostly 3D printed, in the case of the Aeon 1, its nozzle section and fuel chamber were built separately and then assembled.

Its impact on space exploration

The successful launch of Terran 1 opens the doors to a new era of space rocket manufacturing, thus giving a paradigm shift both in costs and in the complexity of the launch system.

Democratizing space exploration

3D printing in rockets opens the doors to a more democratized space industry, reducing costs and increasing the ease of implementing prototypes of more advanced or innovative systems, without the need to spend large sums of money on expensive metallurgical manufacturing.

3D printing with metal alloys.

All very impressive, but how exactly can you 3D print a rocket?🤔

Well, today there are multiple 3D printers that can print different metal alloys in a sandy or powdery state, in the case of the Terran 1, a type of aluminum alloy was used.

Stargate's printers with DMLS and large scale printers

A printed rocket is a very large object and equally large printers were used to print it, among them, we have the most famous, Stargate with direct metal laser sintering (DMLS).

Conclusion

Space exploration, rocket manufacturing, and the way we travel to space are constantly evolving, opening the doors to new opportunities and innovations, bringing us ever closer to achieving the long-awaited dream of conquering the stars.

I would like to know your opinion about this new method of making rockets, let me know in the comments.

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