
Giant 3D-Printed Rocket Fails To Reach Orbit
• https://www.zerohedge.com, by Tyler DurdenLaunch startup Relativity Space Inc.'s Terran 1 is the first of its kind with an 85% 3D-printed structure. A live stream of the launch showed the two-stage rocket failed to ignite its upper-stage engine that would've propelled the rocket into orbit.
Relativity launch director Clay Walker confirmed an "anomaly" occurred with the rocket's upper-stage engine. He said more information would be provided "over the coming days" about the Terran 1's problems after his team reviews flight data.
"There were no satellites on the Terran 1 rocket's first test flight. Debris from the rocket likely fell into the Atlantic Ocean around 400 miles east of Cape Canaveral," rocket news website Spaceflight Now said.
Even though the fight test was a failure, the company tweeted:
The upper stage engine on Relativity Space's Terran 1 rocket appeared to sputter shortly after ignition on tonight's test flight
— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) March 23, 2023
The company confirmed an anomaly with the upper stage, and the Terran 1 will not reach orbit on its first-ever launchhttps://t.co/5SAWJ1O3G3 pic.twitter.com/SJiMpYQmOZ