June 22, 2022 - Relativity Space has delivered the company's first 3D printed rocket, Terran-1, to the Cape Canaveral Space Force (CCFS) launch pad in Florida, just a few steps away from the company's official 3D printed rocket launch. The company touts that they have successfully completed MDC testing of Terran1, Phase 2, and acceptance testing of all nine Aeon1 engines in Phase 1 at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.
ΔRelativity Twitter update
As Relativity CEO Tim Ellis himself said, the launch mission is some two years behind schedule. But, coincidentally, the company is not alone in its journey to build a rocket. Almost all of its competitors in the industry at this stage are piling in to launch their rockets in time for the summer of 2022, such as startup ABL Space's RS1 and Firefly Space's Alpha rocket. Almost simultaneously, all three companies have announced that both phases of their Terran-1, RS1 and Alpha rockets have arrived at their respective launch sites in Florida, Alaska and California. Firefly, which has now successfully validated the first and second stages, is certainly in the lead, while ABL Space and Relativity Space appear to be a little behind at the moment. But both intend to conduct the final booster tests - including the first full-engine, full-power static ignition - at their respective launch sites.
△Firefly has taken the lead in completing the second Alpha rocket, first stage and second stage of validation
At present, ABL has a slight advantage over Relativity, as it delivered the RS1 booster to the Kodiak launch pad in Alaska a few months ago. Nevertheless, Relativity is not to be outdone, having delivered two stages of the 3D printed Terran-1 rocket to the Cape Canaveral launch site in May and June of this year, just a few weeks apart.
ΔABL Space will soon be working on static testing of the booster
Alpha, RS1 and Terran-1 are all designed to be launched into near-Earth orbit with a payload of approximately 1.2-1.35 tonnes (2,600-3,000 pounds) and they are roughly the same size.
The Terran-1 and RS1 are designed to launch at 1.25 and 1.35 tonnes respectively and are priced at US$12 million, while the Alpha is slightly more expensive at US$15 million for 1.17 tonnes.
ΔTerran-1 Stage 1 has been validated and is ready for booster static test work
The RS1 is essentially a conventional welded aluminium rocket, not dissimilar to SpaceX's Falcon 1, but it has nine smaller booster engines rather than the Falcon 1 variety. the Alpha is made almost entirely of carbon fibre composites and is powered by four slightly larger main engines. However, the other Relativity, the much-anticipated Terran-1, has nine 3D-printed boosters made of aluminium. It is also the largest single 3D-printed build ever made. The Terran-1 reportedly weighs around 9.3 tonnes (20,500 lbs) empty.
△Relativity's first 3D printed rocket, Terran-1, delivered to the Florida launch pad
If the booster acceptance tests for Terran-1 go as well as the first phase, the company could be well on its way to its first orbital launch as early as summer 2022 (third quarter), just in time for Firefly (July) and ABL (August). According to Relativity's vision, a similar rocket will be built on Mars in the future, using 3D printing technology.
