The 3d printers They are the future of many disciplines. There are all kinds of items made from them, from food to organs. Many disciplines are being positively influenced by this technology and, of course, the space industry could not be left out. Therefore, the company Relativity Space has already built the first 3d printed rocket of history.
baptized as Terran 1should have been launched in a test flight last Wednesday, March 8. However, due to engine temperature problems, it was decided to abort the mission and postpone it to Saturday, March 11th.
Even without being launched yet, this rocket has already made history, due to the fact that more than 85% of its structure It is made using 3D printers. Even their engines, which are fueled by liquid methane. It could be the future of the space industry, although first it will be necessary to see if it exceeds its test flights. Also, if all goes well, in the future they plan to put another larger and fully reusable rocket into circulation. Who knows? Maybe the future is there.
3D printers to launch rockets into space
Terran 1 is a rocket 33 meters high, designed to put satellites into orbit. Thanks to the structure achieved with the help of 3D printers, it will be able to carry payloads of 1,250kg to low Earth orbit and 900kg to a synchronous orbit with the Sun.
The test flight was canceled only 70 seconds before launchso it will be tried again next Saturday. According to what they say from Space.comthe launch window that day will be between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET. That is, between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., Spanish peninsular time, and between 12:00 and 15:00 in Mexico.
If it goes well then, it will be time to look at Terran R. It will also be made with 3D printers, but it will be bigger, so 66 metersand totally reusable. In addition, it is planned that it can carry payloads of more than 20,000 kg. A whole colossus, that could start working now in 2024.
But you have to go step by step. For now, Terran 1 will have another chance on Saturday. Relativity Space engineers are already working so that the problems that forced an abort during the first attempt are not repeated. As we’ve seen with all the failed Artemis I launch attempts, it’s better to be safe and not lose the rocket than to launch it safely.
With Artemis, the opportunity to return humans to the Moon would have been greatly delayed. And, with Terran 1, we would have to restart the 3D printers to build this one again. pioneer rocket. Therefore, it will be better to go slowly and with good handwriting. Although, even if it went wrong, the company would still be optimistic. Its CEO explained it, Tim Ellison his Twitter account: “This launch will not singularly define our long-term success.”
At the moment they have already demonstrated another of the many applications of 3D printing and they plan to continue doing so. That is the most important thing to them. The rest of the bridges will be crossed as they reach them.
