US space company Relativity Space expects to make the maiden flight of its 3D-printed Terran 1 later this month, a rocket made up of 85% 3D-printed parts. In the run-up to the launch, the various steps of the rocket have been placed on top of each other on the launch pad as a test.
This was announced by Tim Ellis, CEO of Relativity Space, on Twitter. "We're vertical again!!!", Ellis writes. The top executive is referring to the Terran 1, which the company uses to target customers who want to put satellites into orbit.
Terran 1
The Terran 1 consists of two stages and an intermediate stage. The rocket can carry payloads of up to 1,250 kilograms to space. The maximum payload depends on the orbit around Earth customers want to reach. For example, a low Earth orbit at a distance of up to 185 kilometres is possible with a payload of 1,250 kilograms. For a heliosynchronous orbit, a payload of 900 kilograms (up to 500 kilometres from Earth) or 700 kilograms (up to 1,200 kilometres from Earth) is possible.
This is possible thanks to some nine Aeon thrusters placed at the bottom of the rocket. These are 3D-printed thrusters. Relativity Space reports that the design of the thrusters ensures higher reliability. For instance, the engines feature a relatively small number of components in the combustion chambers, ignition, turbo pumps, so-called reaction control thrusters and pressure systems.
The Aeon thrusters use a combination of liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas as fuel. Relativity Space claims that this fuel is not only optimal for powering rockets, but also the easiest to produce on Mars. Relativity Space has already had the Aeon engines tested more than two thousand times so far.
Terran R
Besides the Terran 1, Relativity Space is also working on a second rocket: the Terran R. A key focus point for the Terran R is reusability. Both the engines, first stage, second stage and nose cone are reusable after a launch.
The Terran R should be able to put more than 20,000 kilograms into low-Earth orbit. The rocket's features include algorithmically generated and optimised structures, which provide an aerodynamic design.
Relativity Space is targeting both commercial and government customers with the Terran R. It aims to offer customers "affordable access to space", both in terms of low-Earth orbit and beyond. The launch of the Terran R is scheduled for 2024 at Cape Canaveral in the US state of Florida.
Produced in just 60 days
The company highlights the production speed made possible by 3D printing. It claims to be able to manufacture both the Terran 1 and Terran R in just 60 days, from raw materials to finished rocket. Further information about the company and its rockets is available here.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Image: PIRO via Pixabay
