Company Makes History With World’s First 3D-Printed Rocket Launch

Artists impression of the Terran 1 launch – courtesy of Relativity Space

A private space tech firm will become the first entity to launch a 3D-printed rocket, which is technically the largest 3D-printed object as well.

Totally reusable, the Terran 1 will launch today from the spaceport at Cape Canaveral at 1:00 PM US Eastern Time, and will be streamed live on this YouTube channel.

Built by Relativity Space, the company has huge ambitions for lowering the cost and emissions of spacefaring. This real-world test of Terran 1 features a rocket made with only 85% printed material, but future rockets will reach 95% and will include additive-manufactured boosters as well.

It’s a small payload rocket meant to economize small deliveries into space with all the wonderful cost reductions that come from reusability and 3D-printing.

A liquid oxygen propellant will act as the fuel, which would make it the first rocket ever to leave the atmosphere on natural gas fuels, and prove a key part of the company’s future missions to Mars which it hopes to power with methane.

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Currently the rocket stands 110 feet tall and can carry 2,756 pounds (1,250 kilograms) into space, while the Terran R, a future project, will be much larger.

Relativity Space was started by former SpaceX and Blue Origin employees.

WATCH the live launch feed which kicks off noon EST…

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