Relativity Space have just received $3 million from NASA to launch small lightweight satellites into orbit with its fully 3D printed Terran 1 rocket. NASA\u2019s Launch Service Program (LSP) issued the Venture Class Launch Services Demonstration 2 (VCLS Demo 2) contract to Relativity as part of an endeavour to establish uncrewed research missions in space. Missions such as these are increasingly critical to multi-planetary research, technology and exploration. Relativity\u2019s Terran 1 is scheduled to launch from the orbital site at Cape Canaveral LC-16 by June 30th 2022, taking with it various small, lightweight satellites including CubeSats, SmallSats, microsats, and nanosats, to be placed Low Earth Orbit (LEO).<\/p>\n
This mission will make history, launching the first satellite into orbit using an entirely 3D printed rocket. In fact, the Terran 1, is the world\u2019s first entirely 3D printed rocket<\/a>. Relativity Space have been developing the Terran 1 since 2015, using their in-house Stargate 3D printers, currently taking up residence in the company\u2019s new Stargate factory<\/a>. Combining intelligent robotics, software and data-driven 3D technology, as well as AI driven-controls and the world\u2019s largest metal 3D printers, the Stargate factory is the first ever aerospace platform to automate rocket manufacturing.<\/p>\n