Relativity Space has just launched what is described in the scientific circles as the world's first 3D-printed rocket. About 85 percent of the approximately 110-foot-tall rocket, named Terran-1, was produced using additive manufacturing techniques, also called 3D printing, on the world's largest 3D printer. The company said its ultimate aim was to have over 95 percent of the rocket 3D-printed.
Terran-1 lifted off for the first time from Launch Complex 16 at Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on a mission that took place at 8.25PM EST on March 22, but failed to reach a suitable height to be able to circle Earth, which is known as orbiting. But that does not minimise the importance of Terran-1 whatsoever.
Explainer: Terran-1 rocket
Terran-1 is a small launch vehicle which was developed by Relativity Space, a US aerospace manufacturing company. It is the world's first rocket built using 3D-printed alloy in fewer than 60 days.
The rocket was equipped with hand-prepped multi-jet fusion (MJF) parts. It was primed and painted using automotive-grade paint and a urethane clear coat. The spacecraft, fuelled by extremely cold liquid methane and oxygen rather than the traditional choice of something like kerosene, liquid hydrogen, alcohol, or hydrazine and its derivatives- emitted a vibrant blue-green glow in the nighttime sky.
Most rockets that are powered by liquid chemicals use two different propellants: fuel and oxidizer. Other than the traditional choices mentioned above, many other fuels have been tested and used. Oxidizers often include nitric acid, liquid oxygen, liquid fluorine and nitrogen tetroxide. Some very efficient oxidizers are liquefied gases, like oxygen and fluorine, which retain their liquid properties only at extremely low temperatures causing problems in them being used in rockets.
This story is from the April 2023 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2023 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Future Of Space Militarization
GIRISH LINGANNA explains how the peaceful 'Space Race' has now been turned into Man's 'War-Fighting Domain'
HIRE TO FIGHT IF YOU CAN'T
Fearing interests among the young for a career in the military is increasingly becoming a global phenomenon.
Earth observation takes centre stage with NASA-ISRO collaboration
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made clear the purpose of its upcoming joint mission with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – the Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite.
Chasing ambitious Martian dreams
India's space programme is poised for another giant leap with the planned Mars lander mission, tentatively scheduled for launch between 2028 and 2030.
HOME MINISTRY TOM TOM'S DRUG SEIZURE RECORD
The Union Home Ministry highlighted the Modi government’s efforts in combating the drug menace.
DRDO SUCCESSFULLY FLIGHT TESTS VSHORADS
DRDO conducted two successful flight tests of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile on Feb 28th and 29th from a ground-based portable launcher off the coast of Odisha from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur.
BEYOND BORDER-FENCING
The central government’s decisions to scrap the Free Movement Regime in the border areas of India and Myanmar and to fence the entire Indo-Myanmar border may do more harm than good, argues VAISHALI BASU SHARMA
MINGLING-LIKE POMEGRANATE SEEDS
The tremendous development on the Tibetan side of the Sino-Indian border, particularly the String of model villages’, and also the incredible infrastructure development needs to be closely watched in Delhi, with suitable measures taken to improve the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control, argues CLAUDE ARPI
INDIA'S NEW NAVAL AIRBASE IN MINICOY ISLANDS
India lost its foothold in Maldives, the smallest country in Asia, to Chinese overtures. But, not losing its hold in the Indian Ocean Region, the Indian Navy is building a naval air base in the Lakshadweep Islands group. The Indian Isles, located in the Arabian Sea, is just 507 kilometres from the Maldives and is seen as an alternative to the Maldives. RITU SHARMA reports
MISSION DIVYASTRA AND AGNI-VI
The successor to Agni-V Mark-2 Agni-VI) is expected to have a range between 9,000 km and 12,000 km with a 3-tonne nuclear payload, and a strike range between 14,000 km and 16,000 km with a lighter 1.5-tonne package, writes AMARTYA SINHA.