zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Beyond Cars
/
World’s First 3D-Printed Rocket Might Finally Launch on Saturday
World’s First 3D-Printed Rocket Might Finally Launch on Saturday-August 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:13:50

A photo of the Relativity Space rocket on the launch pad.

these days. From car parts and bike cranks, to saxophone mouthpieces and automotive accessories it seems like you can . Now, space travel startup Relativity Space is taking that notion one step further as it prepares to launch the world’s first 3D-printed rocket.

After earlier this year, Relativity Space is about to launch its latest orbiter, which is comprised of 85 percent 3D-printed components. The space startup originally scheduled the launch of the new craft for Wednesday (March 8), but has since pushed the launch back to Saturday (March 11).

, the 110-foot-tall Terran 1 rocket is a two-stage craft that is mostly built using components that have been made using 3D-printing tech. The major components that have been created in this way include the rocket’s fuselage, and its nine Aeon-1 engines. The rocket’s engines also run on liquid methane, which is another first for the U.S. space industry.

In the future, Relativity Space hopes to on its rockets and is targeting as much as 95 percent 3D-printed components by mass.

But while you might think of 3D-printed objects as being flimsy or fragile, this rocket is far from that. While its launch won’t feature a payload, the Terran 1 will be capable of carrying a lot of stuff, :

“Terran 1 is designed to carry payloads of up to 2,700 pounds (1,250 kilograms) to low Earth orbit and can haul 1,980 pounds (900 kg) to a sun-synchronous orbit at a cost of about $12 million per flight, Relativity Space has said.

“The company is also working on a larger, fully reusable rocket called Terran R designed to stand 216 feet tall (66 m) and launch more than 44,000 pounds (20,000 kg) to orbit with its Aeon-R engines starting in 2024.”

A photo of the Relativity Space rocket on the way to the launch pad.

When the rocket lifts off from a site in Florida for its mission branded “Good Luck, Have Fun”, the launch will be all about proving that a 3D-printed craft can “handle the rigors of launch.”

Relativity Space will livestream the launch on Youtube Saturday, with the launch scheduled for 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. You can .

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Beyond Cars
American Airlines Pilots Union Rejects Holiday Raise, Demands Permanent Change
American Airlines Pilots Union Rejects Holiday Raise, Demands Permanent Change
American Airlines is being held to account for offering short-term fixes for long-standing issues as the company heads into the holiday season. The Allied Pilots Association rejected an offer of increased pay during peak periods of the holiday season. The APA represents over 14,000 pilots employed by American Airlines....
Aug 6, 2026
The $10 Motorcycle Helmet Designed To Transform Global Road Safety
The $10 Motorcycle Helmet Designed To Transform Global Road Safety
Of the events that took place at the Mexico City Grand Prix, the most consequential might have happened on Thursday, before any Formula One car drove out on track. Representatives from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Formula One, the Asociación Nacional de Automovilistas of Mexico (ANA), the Mexican...
Aug 6, 2026
Ducati Gets Naked With Two New Streetfighter Models
Ducati Gets Naked With Two New Streetfighter Models
Continuing Ducati’s season of giving us new models, a pair of new Streetfighter models dropped from the new bike tree on Thursday. At the bottom of the range is the $16,995 Panigale V2, and now at the very top of the nameplate is the new carbon-wheels and 208 horsepower...
Aug 6, 2026
SpaceX Starlink Satellites Remain On Earth Another Day After Bad Weather Delays Launch
SpaceX Starlink Satellites Remain On Earth Another Day After Bad Weather Delays Launch
If you were at all worried you missed of a slew of satellites from , then I’ll need you to stop anxiously pacing and relax. The good news is this morning’s launch of 54 satellites has been delayed until tomorrow morning (November 13), due to unfavorable weather conditions in...
Aug 6, 2026
Blue Origin Passenger Dies In Plane Crash
Blue Origin Passenger Dies In Plane Crash
Glen de Vries, a 54-year-old software executive, was killed earlier this week when in a state park in northern New Jersey. In October, De Vries rode on Blue Origin’s second brief flight to the edge of space alongside William Shatner, the actor famous for portraying Star Trek’s Captain Kirk....
Aug 6, 2026
Here's What Happens When You Cut An Engine In Half Then Start What's Left
Here's What Happens When You Cut An Engine In Half Then Start What's Left
It’s been a long while since . Lately, the team has been obsessed with cutting car parts up then welding them back together. Can an engine still run after it’s been sliced in half? Let’s find out! The last time we peered into the delightful weirdness that is Garage 54,...
Aug 6, 2026
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved