Relativity Space launch hits milestones but couldn’t hit orbit

Relativity Space managed to launch its 3D-printed Terran 1 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, but an issue with its second-stage engine prevented the ultimate orbital goal.

Still, the Long Beach, California-based startup company hit several milestones on the mission dubbed “GLHF,” as in “Good Luck, Have Fun” including liftoff from the pad, hitting supersonic speeds, enduring maximum dynamic pressure, main engine cutoff and a separation of the first and second stages.

Video of the liftoff at 11:25 p.m. Wednesday showed the blue flame from its nine Aeon 1 engines burning into the night sky as company commentators broke out in cheers and laughter.

In this frame grab from livestreamed video provided by Relativity Space, Terran 1 launches from Cape Canaveral, Fla., late Wednesday, March 22, 2023. The rocket is made almost entirely of 3D-printed parts. (Relativity Space via AP) (Uncredited/AP)

“We are on our way to making new history. Terran 1 came ready to play today,” said test and launch program manager Arwa Tizani Kelly during the live stream. “We just completed a major step in proving to the world that 3D-printed rockets are structurally viable”

Video, though, showed a sputtering flame in the single Aeon vacuum engine that was supposed to power the second stage to its orbital destination.

“There’s been a T-plus anomaly with stage two,” said launch director Clay Walker.

Teams will delve into the issues that prevented the final run of its rocket, but Relativity officials have been saying all along that this first launch, which did not have a customer payload, is a pathfinder for its future plans to build an even larger rocket called Terran R.

“Maiden launches are always exciting and today’s flight was no exception,” said Tizani Kelly. “Although we didn’t reach orbit, we significantly exceeding our key objectives for this first launch.”

In this frame grab from livestreamed video provided by Relativity Space, Terran 1 launches from Cape Canaveral, Fla., late Wednesday, March 22, 2023. The rocket is made almost entirely of 3D-printed parts. (Relativity Space via AP) (Uncredited/AP)

The company once again muscled through issues ahead of launch including holds for high-level winds and a boat that ventured into the Eastern Range, but was able to finally light the engines and take off from Launch Complex 16 after two attempts earlier in March ended up in scrubs.

“Today, I’m incredibly proud of our team and all the people that believed in me against all odds to get here,” company cofounder and CEO Tim Ellis posted to Twitter earlier Wednesday. “I get asked all the time how I’m feeling — proud, and surreal! It’s an intense feeling stepping up to the global stage on the eve of our first launch. But we are ready!!!”

The GLHF mission looked to accomplish a series of firsts including sending the largest 3D-printed object flown into space. The Terran 1 is 85% 3D-printed including its engines.

It could also have successfully become the first rocket to use the a fuel dubbed “methalox,” which is liquid oxygen and refined liquid natural gas close to methane. The mixture is thought to be the future for rocketry as it would be an easier fuel to deal with in space for refueling. SpaceX’s new Starship, ULA’s upcoming Vulcan and Blue Origin’s in-development New Glenn also will use the mixture. China has also tried, but failed, to send up a rocket using this next-generation fuel.

Missing out on another first, Terran 1, was not able to achieve orbit on its first try, but Relativity Space is in good company with the likes of SpaceX, Astra Space, Firefly and others, all of whom took several tries before reaching orbit successfully.

Suffering second-stage issues is also something small rocket companies have endured of late including two such orbital failures by Astra Space from Cape Canaveral in 2022, the ultimately led that company to shelve that rocket design.

Astra Space CEO Chris Kemp weighed in on the launch on Twitter saying, “Congrats @relativityspace! Impressive first attempt!” Others gave accolades as well including Rocket Lab replying on Twitter, “Congrats on first flight, team! Celebrate well tonight and enjoy your wealth of new data tomorrow.”

“Today is a huge win, with many historic firsts,” Relativity stated on its Twitter. “We will assess flight data and provide public updates over the coming days.”

The Terran 1 rocket is smaller compared with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 or ULA’s Atlas rockets, standing at just 110 feet tall. It’s capable of sending 2,756 pounds of payload to low-Earth orbit of about 310 miles, but this test flight was only aiming to hit between 125-130 miles high.

While there was no customer for this first test flight, it was flying with a symbolic 3D-printed metal object that was one of the company’s first-ever 3D-printed items.

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