USA: The first 3D-printed rocket takes off | tagesschau.de

The first launch of an almost entirely 3D-printed rocket ended after three minutes. During the first test flight, “Terran 1” did not reach orbit as planned. Shortly after takeoff, it fell into the sea.

The world’s first 3D-printed rocket didn’t reach orbit for its first test flight as planned. The unmanned Terran 1 took off from the launch pad at Cape Canaveral in the US state of Florida – but it did not reach the hoped-for altitude and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean after about three minutes of flight time.

The first stage lifted off after launch from the Space Force’s Cape Canaveral Station as planned. The upper stage also initially ignited, but then stopped, causing the rocket to fall into the sea. It was already planned that “Terran 1” will reach low Earth orbit in eight minutes. The test flight aboard Relativity Space was only the company’s first 3D-printed metal product six years ago.

The operating company is still satisfied

According to Relativity Space, the goal of the first test flight was to collect data and show that a 3D-printed rocket can withstand the pressure of launch and flight. According to the operating company, this was a success: Relativity Space wrote on Twitter that the launch of “Terran 1” confirmed the technology and would enable the launch of the next rocket, “Terran R”. This is the biggest evidence of the new approach to additive manufacturing, the letter continues.

Made of alloy

According to the California company Relativity Space, “Terran 1” is the largest object ever produced using a 3D printer. Most of the components of the 33-meter rocket, including the engines, came from the company’s giant 3D printers in Long Beach, California. According to the manufacturer, 85 percent of the “Tiran-1” missile consists of 3D-printed metal parts. The larger versions should have a higher percentage and be reusable many times.

Other aerospace companies are also using 3D printing, but parts make up only a small part of their rockets. Founded in 2015 by two young aerospace engineers, Relativity Space has attracted the attention of investors and venture capitalists.