Launch debut of 3D-printed rocket ends in failure, no orbit
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — (AP) — A rocket made almost entirely of 3D-printed parts made its launch debut Wednesday night, lifting off amid fanfare but failing three minutes into flight — far short of orbit. But the upper stage appeared to ignite and then shut down, sending it crashing into the Atlantic. Relativity Space came within a half-second of blasting off earlier this month, with the rocket's engines igniting before abruptly shutting down. Relativity Space said 3D-printed metal parts made up 85% of the rocket, named Terran. Founded in 2015 by a pair of young aerospace engineers, Relativity Space has attracted the attention of investors and venture capitalists.
wftv.comFirst fully 3D-printed rocket set for Wednesday night launch from Florida’s Space Coast
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — People in Central Florida could see a first-of-its-kind rocket launch Wednesday night from Florida’s Space Coast. Relativity Space will try for a third time to get its fully 3D-printed rocket off the ground and into orbit. Watch: To boldly go: NASA reveals new spacesuits for planned Moon landing missionThe company’s Terran 1 rocket uses fewer parts and is quicker to build than a traditional rocket. Read: NASA Webb telescope captures star on cusp of deathThe company is planning to try a third launch attempt with a launch window from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday. Channel 9 will have live coverage of the launch if it happens and will provide updates on Eyewitness News.
wftv.comRelativity Space’s 3D-printed rocket set to launch next week after multiple scrubs
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — There’s still hope for people to see the first 3D-printed rocket blast off into space. ‘Thanks for playing’: Relativity Space scrubs 3D-printed rocket launch for 2nd timeThe previous attempt happened on Mar. WATCH: SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force StationRelativity Space scrubbed the first attempt on Mar. Terran 1 is a 110-foot tall rocket made of mostly 3D-printed materials and is the largest 3D-printed abject to attempt orbital flight. Video: Possible date cleared for 3rd launch attempt of first fully 3D-printed rocket The launch has been scrubbed twice because of various issues.
wftv.comPossible date cleared for 3rd launch attempt of 3D-printed rocket
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — We now know when a company could try once again to launch its 3-D printed rocket from Florida’s Space Coast. According to a U.S. Space Force launch mission execution forecast, Relativity Space may be planning to launch its Terran-1 rocket between 1:00 a.m. and 3:15 a.m. Friday. Read: ‘Thanks for playing’: Relativity Space scrubs 3D-printed rocket launch for 2nd timeThis would be the third launch attempt for the first fully 3-D printed rocket. See: NASA shares new images of winter landscapes high above MarsChannel 9 will have live coverage of the launch if it happens and will provide updates on Eyewitness News. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
wftv.com‘Thanks for playing’: Relativity Space scrubs 3D-printed rocket launch for 2nd time
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Relativity Space scrubbed its second launch attempt of Terran 1 Saturday. There were some holds throughout the launch window, and they attempted a final go right at the end of the launch window at 4 p.m.Based on initial data review, vehicle is healthy. #GLHF pic.twitter.com/h6MmFKHUNl — Relativity Space (@relativityspace) March 11, 2023Read: Launch of world’s 1st 3D-printed rocket set for Saturday afternoonTerran 1 is a 110-foot tall rocket made of mostly 3D-printed materials. Once the new T-0 time was announced, it was an instantaneous window during the last minute of the launch window. Video: Relativity Space to launch first fully 3D-printed rocket from Florida’s Space Coast Crews are planning to launch the first-ever fully 3D-printed rocket Wednesday from Florida’s Space Coast.
wftv.com3D-printed rocket remains grounded after more launch aborts
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — (AP) — A rocket made almost completely of 3D-printed parts came within a half-second of blasting off Saturday on its debut flight, but remained grounded after back-to-back launch aborts. The engines ignited, but abruptly shut down, leaving Relativity Space’s rocket, named Terran, standing on its pad. Launch controllers reset the countdown clocks and aimed for the last possible moment of the three-hour window at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Relativity Space said 85% of the rocket, including its engines, came out of its huge 3D printers at company headquarters in Long Beach, California. Given this is a test flight, all that is aboard the rocket is the company’s first 3D metal print.
wftv.comLaunch of world’s 1st 3D-printed rocket set for Saturday afternoon
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Relativity Space is targeting Saturday afternoon for its second launch attempt of Terran 1, a mostly 3D-printed rocket, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Launch Complex 16. The launch, called “Good Luck, Have Fun,” is scheduled to liftoff between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. after Wednesday’s launch was scrubbed because of a temperature issue with the rocket’s liquid oxygen. According to a news release, the two-stage rocket has nine 3D-printed Aeon engines on its first stage and one Aeon Vac on its second stage. Read: FHP troopers investigating deadly Orange County crash involving pedestrianWe are GO for prop load, which is getting underway. #GLHF pic.twitter.com/2OBgTDobFM — Relativity Space (@relativityspace) March 11, 2023Read: School voucher expansion heads to state house after approval by Republican-controlled subcommitteeWatch the launch live on Channel 9.
wftv.comUp, up & away: 2 rocket launches planned for Florida’s Space Coast this week
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — It’s going to be a busy week on Florida’s Space Coast. There are two rocket launches that are planned to take off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station over the next few days. Relativity Space was looking to launch its 3D-printed rocket, Terran I, at 1 p.m. Wednesday, but that launch attempt was delayed several times before ultimately being scrubbed shortly before 3:30 p.m.Watch: First 3D-printed rocket set to blast off from Space Coast this weekOfficials said Terran I is the first fully 3D-printed rocket capable of carrying payloads into orbit. The company is aiming to launch a Falcon 9 rocket to carry a batch of satellites for the OneWeb 3 mission. SpaceX is also planning to launch another Falcon 9 rocket sometime Friday, but the company has not yet released a launch time.
wftv.com3D-printed rocket's debut launch aborted at last minute
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — (AP) — A rocket made almost entirely of 3D-printed parts remained on the pad Wednesday after its debut launch attempt was aborted at the last minute. California-based Relativity Space was attempting to launch the rocket to orbit from a former missile site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Relativity Space aims to increase that percentage on its future versions. SpaceX's Falcon rockets have been flying with 3D-printed parts for years, but not nearly to the extent of Relativity Space's new rocket. Relativity Space said its rocket is the largest 3D-printed object to attempt a launch.
wftv.comCalifornia company's 3D rocket poised to make debut launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — (AP) — A rocket made almost entirely of 3D parts was poised to blast off Wednesday on its debut launch. California-based Relativity Space is attempting to launch the rocket to orbit from Cape Canaveral. About 85% of the rocket, named Terran, is made of 3D parts printed at the company’s factory in Long Beach, California, including its engines. SpaceX's Falcon rockets have been flying with 3D parts for years, but not nearly to the extent of Relativity Space's new rocket. Relativity Space said its rocket is the largest 3D printed object to exist and attempt orbital flight.
wftv.comAt 1 p.m.: Relativity Space to launch first fully 3D-printed rocket from Florida’s Space Coast
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — Crews are planning to launch the first-ever fully 3D-printed rocket Wednesday from Florida’s Space Coast. Relativity Space’s Terran I rocket is 110 feet tall and uses fewer parts and is quicker to build than the traditional rocket. Read: Up, up & away: 3 rocket launches planned for Florida’s Space Coast this weekAnd that’s not the only launch you may see this week. The time of Friday’s planned launch has not been released. Channel 9 will monitor all three planned launches and will provide updates on Eyewitness News.
wftv.comRelativity Space teams with HI-SEAS, NASA to celebrate International Women's Day
California-based aerospace startup Relativity Space will celebrate International Women's Day (March 8) and Women's History Month with a new video highlighting an all-woman analog astronaut crew. The new video, which Relativity Space released today, highlights the crew and mission of Sensoria M2 , the second all-woman mission at the HI-SEAS (Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation) habitat, in October 2020. It followed the first such mission, Sensoria M1, which took place in January 2020. Live updates: Our mission to 'Mars' at the HI-SEAS habitatMore: HI-SEAS' 8-month mock Mars mission in picturesRelativity Space highlighted the Sensoria M2 mission at HI-SEAS for the 2021 International Women's Day. Relativity Space said in a statement, found in the image above.
space.comJeff Bezos visited the new headquarters of Relativity Space, the 3D-printing rocket builder
Ellis previously worked at Bezos' space company Blue Origin as a propulsion engineer – and was credited for bringing the process of 3D printing metal rocket parts in-house. Ellis then left Blue Origin in 2015 to found Relativity with Jordan Noone, a college classmate and former SpaceX propulsion engineer. Relativity declined CNBC's request for comment on Bezos' visit, while Blue Origin did not respond to requests for comment. The company's first rocket, Terran 1, is expected to launch for the first time later this year. Relativity is also working on a second, larger rocket called Terran R – aiming to compete with SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket in both launch capability and reusability.
cnbc.comRelativity Space unveils a reusable, 3D-printed rocket to compete with SpaceX's Falcon 9
An artist's illustration of the difference in size between the company's Terran 1 rocket, to the left, and the planned Terran R rocket. Relativity SpaceRelativity Space, the 3D-printing rocket builder, is making another big bet: Developing a fully reusable rocket, designed to match the power and capability of SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 rockets. He highlighted SpaceX's work on reusability as informing Relativity's approach to Terran R, which he expects will be "fully reusable." "It's a copper chamber engine ... and it's actually now the same engine on the upper stage of Terran R as on Terran 1." Relativity plans to launch Terran R from Cape Canaveral in Florida, where the company previously secured a launch site for Terran 1.
cnbc.comRelativity Space readies for its first launch of 3D-printed rocket later this year
Related: Relativity Space will 3D-print rockets at new autonomous factory"We’re keeping the momentum strong in #2021 with hotfire testing of our development second stage! Relativity Space said via Twitter on Jan. 21 . In November, Relativity Space announced it had closed a $500 million "Series D" financing round even as the coronavirus pandemic affected similar manufacturers in the space industry. "The last six months have been an exciting time at Relativity Space," Tim Ellis, the company's CEO, told Space.com. Related: Relativity Space to launch satellite 'tugs' on 3D-printed rocketSpace publications have taken note of Relativity's swift progress.
space.comRelativity Space raising $500 million at $2 billion valuation from Tiger and others, sources say
Rocket builder and 3D-printing specialist Relativity Space is raising $500 million of fresh capital in a new round being led by Tiger Global Management, people familiar with the financing told CNBC on Tuesday. The new fundraise, expected to close in the coming days, would jump Relativity's valuation to $2.3 billion, those people said. In addition to Tiger Global, Fidelity is also joining the round as a new Relativity investor. Existing investors in Relativity are also expected to be contributing — those include Social Capital, Playground Global, Y Combinator, Bond Capital, Tribe Capital, Jared Leto and Mark Cuban. Tiger Global, the hedge fund of investor Chase Coleman, has more than $40 billion in assets under management.
cnbc.comInside Relativity Space's 3D-printing rocket 'factory of the future'
Speaking for the first time since he left Elon Musk's rocket company, Dunn said Relativity has exceeded his expectations. "Two buckets of raw material come in and then the printers reconfigure that material into a rocket," Ellis said. Relativity Space | gif by @thesheetztweetzRealtivity's Terran 1 rocket has just 730 individual parts – about 100 times less than the typical rocket. Relativity test fires its engines at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, where it has a long-term lease for multiple testing chambers. A computer rendering shows Relativity Space's rocket Terran launching from Cape Canaveral's LC-16 launchpad.
cnbc.comRelativity Space looks to California for second launch site
Relativity Space is developing its Terran 1 rocket, the first fully 3D-printed launch vehicle, at its headquarters in Long Beach, California. The company already has a launch site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Launch Complex 16, which is under construction. On Wednesday, Relativity Space revealed it has signed a right of entry agreement with the U.S. Air Force 30th Space Wing to develop launch facilities at Vandenberg Air Force Space. If approved, the B-330 launch site will allow spacecraft launches to polar and sun-synchronous orbits from the West Coast, according to a news release. A Relativity Space robotic engineer operates Stargate, the world's largest 3D printer, on June 10, 2019 at the company's California headquarters.
At new HQ Relativity Space can begin building first 3D-printed rockets to launch from Cape Canaveral
Ahead of its first rocket launch next year, Relativity Space is moving into new, bigger digs in Long Beach, California where it will build the first fully 3D printed rockets to launch from Cape Canaveral. Chief Technology Officer and co-founder Jordan Noone said the new headquarters in Long Beach will allow the growing team to begin building the first few Terran 1 rockets to launch from Cape Canaveral. We have the space to do it now.”Relativity Space announced this week its moving the company's headquarters to Long Beach, California. "The space economy continues its growth in Long Beach with the addition of Relatively,” Long Beach Mayor, Dr. Robert Garcia said. The official move-in date to the Long Beach headquarters will happen sometime in May or June, Noone said.
First Space Coast launch from Relativity Space gets green light with new round of funding
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Relativity Space has the green light to get to orbit after receiving a new round of funding, the company said Tuesday. On Tuesday, Relativity Space announced it had closed on a $140 million Series C funding round led by Bond and Tribe Capital. Relativity Space CEO Tim Ellis in front of 3D printed rocket hardware at the company's headquarters near Los Angeles. When News 6 visited Relativity Space headquarters near Los Angeles in June, Stargate 2.0 was still underdevelopment. In order to accommodate, the more flexible Stargate printers Relativity is moving into new facilities that will support a taller printing process.
Momentus orbital shuttle service to launch on Relativity Space 3D-printed rocket
California-based Relativity Space is currently preparing Launch Complex 16 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to begin launching its fully 3D-printed Terran 1 rocket. On Wednesday, Relativity Space announced it has entered a launch services agreement with Momentus -- the company provides in-space ferry services for spacecraft -- to launch Momentus customers for up to six launches. Laura Lariu, general counsel for Relativity Space, said this partnership furthers the company's goals to expand access to space and opens the Terran 1 up to a wider market of spacecraft. The orbital shuttle is powered by a water plasma propulsion system that pushes satellites from one orbit to another. The result is a super-heated gas to create thrust for the orbital shuttle to deliver spacecraft into various orbits.
PHOTOS: Inside 3D rocket printing company Relativity Space's headquarters
Relativity Space CTO Jordan Noone stands in front of a 3D printer known as Stargate 2.0. The printers can be elevated to print taller rocket parts and are only limited by the size of the building. (Image: Emilee Speck/WKMG)Hide Caption