Relativity Space Terran R Rocket

I do hope that they succeed with their Terran R rocket; it's an interesting and IMO fairly aesthetically pleasing design, though I'm very curious as to what they're making the 2nd stage out of that's so heat resistant. It'll also be interesting to see how cheap they can get the marginal launch cost to be; if the thermal protection system is capable of being embedded into the structure / hull material choice then that'll potentially help a lot with being competitive with Starship's launch cost goals.
 
Things are accelerating. Blue Origin was once SpaceX most advanced competitor; now Rocketlab and Relativity are on its heels. The more, the merrier !

Recovery of second stages is a very difficult issue; and it will be fascinating to see companies different approaches at solving this problem.

So far we have
- SpaceX Falcon 9: stage 2 not recovered.
- SpaceX BFR-Starship: stage 2 recovered, turned multipurpose spaceship
- Blue Origin: New Glenn / New Armstrong: stage 2 not recovered, yet could be turned wet workshop once stuck in orbit
- Rocketlab Neutron: stage 2 not recovered, so close from Falcon 9
- Relativity: stage 2 to be recovered (aerodynamically ?)

Let the fun begin !
 
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A rival to Space X. I don’t believe they’ve made any secret of their inspiration by the older company.

arstechnica.com

Relativity has a bold plan to take on SpaceX, and investors are buying it

“We’re trying to ice skate to where the puck is going.”…
arstechnica.com arstechnica.com

www.relativityspace.com

Relativity Space Raises $650M to Scale Terran R Production

As a leading private space company with significant technical and commercial momentum, the company’s latest funding round helps catalyze production for its
www.relativityspace.com www.relativityspace.com

 
I imagine huge factories making IRBM hypersonic strike weapons by the hundreds per day :oops:
 
Terran R, Rocket Lab's Neutron, Falcon 9, Starship, New Glenn (if it ever flies). 5 years from now space flight is going to even more interesting.
 
Relativity is on Countdown for Terran-1
let's hope it will be a success
 
Michel Van said:
Relativity is on Countdown for Terran-1
let's hope it will be a success
Click to expand...
And it's a scrub. They spent a lot of time trying to get the propellant temps right and it looks like the 2nd stage just was not cooperating.
 
Michel Van said:
Automatic abort trigger by Autopilot
Click to expand...

They tried to recycle after that automatic abort but it looks like they couldn't get the temps right and decided to scrub part way through the recycled countdown.
 
I believe they have done a full tanking test before. What's changed from that? Did the high wind increase heat flow too much?
 
The Drama continue

Terran-1 made it countdown, just 1 minute before launch, some idiot cruise his boat in safety zone
Then they restart countdown, Ignitions happen and Nothing, Terran-1 shut down and remain obstinate on Launch pad...
launch crew checking the rocket for another launch attempt today.
 
This Rocket behave like a Diva...

Relativity will Annonce a new launch date
 
According a member of Nasa Space Flight Forum
the Gas Generator of engine failed to power the Turbopumps to full speed.
seems the time frame of GG operation was too short to start up TP operation.

if that's the case a simple modification of Gas Generator fix the problem.

Source:

FAILURE: Relativity Terran 1 Test Flight : CCSFS SLC-16 : 23 Mar 2023 03:25 UTC

FAILURE: Relativity Terran 1 Test Flight : CCSFS SLC-16 : 23 Mar 2023 03:25 UTC
forum.nasaspaceflight.com forum.nasaspaceflight.com
 
What advantages are there with a 3D printed rocket versus the existing manufacturing methods?

I could only think of use of 3D printing for low volume and prototyping work ....
 
zjz said:
What advantages are there with a 3D printed rocket versus the existing manufacturing methods?

I could only think of use of 3D printing for low volume and prototyping work ....
Click to expand...
Faster iteration, lower tooling costs (including time), more flexibility in part design.
 
zjz said:
What advantages are there with a 3D printed rocket versus the existing manufacturing methods?

I could only think of use of 3D printing for low volume and prototyping work ....
Click to expand...
The only way to find out is to actually try it :).
 
Relativity publish there Failure report on Terran 1 flight

it was Gas generator for Turbopumps
Valve open to slow and there was gas in Lox line to it.
this let more methane in generator to power it correctly
and Turbopump starved...

now to bad news
Relativity abandon the Terran 1 and focus on Terran R
also they abandon the 3d printing of rocket hull
and will build tanks of Terran R out metal sheet

This mean it will takes years until we see another Relativity rocket

Source:
Scott Manley
 
Apparently that was the first and last flight of Terran 1. They're moving on to Terran R and it will incorporate more traditional methods of manufacture where it makes sense. There will still be a lot of 3D printed stuff but I'm guess it's won't be any cylindrical body sections.
 

Terran R - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
...a maximum payload capacity of 23,500 kg (51,800 lb) to low earth orbit (LEO) with a fully reusable first stage, and 33,500 kg (73,900 lb) to LEO if fully expended.
Click to expand...

www.relativityspace.com

Relativity Space - Terran R

www.relativityspace.com www.relativityspace.com

www.defensenews.com

US Space Force plans to boost competition for launch business. Will it work?

Incumbents with the National Security Space Launch mission may have too strong a hold on the program.
www.defensenews.com www.defensenews.com

The lack of affordable launch capacity in the medium and heavy lift markets is what is driving Relativity Space’s development of its Terran R rocket, according to Chief Revenue Officer Josh Brost.

The company has described its approach as customer-centric, focused on containing costs by 3D printing major parts and designing others to be reusable. And while the 270-foot-tall Terran R is “optimized” for launches to low Earth orbit — about 1,200 miles above the planet’s surface — Brost said the vision is for it to fly more stressing missions to higher orbits.
Click to expand...
 

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