3D Printing
News Videos Newsletter Contact us
Home / Aerospace / 20ft Rocket Stage 3D Printed and Ready for Test
qidi

20ft Rocket Stage 3D Printed and Ready for Test

April 13, 2021

California-based space company Relativity Space has shared a bunch of new pictures on their social media showing the progress of their metal AM rocket stage.

We thought we would re-share them here for you because rockets are cool, metal AM is cool, and large scale metal AM is even more awesome.

As you can see in the first image below, shared on the company’s Twitter account recently, the 20ft rocket stage body is being hoisted off the print platform (or print “cell”).

rocket stage
The 20 foot 2nd stage is lifted from the printer cell. (Image credit: Relativity Space)

The component will form the second stage rocket of the expendable Terran 1 rocket vehicle, and was built in just a few weeks with the aid of the company’s large scale Directed Energy Deposition (DED) system. Specifically the printer is capable of printing a foot in height per day, meaning the total 20 ft tall structure was completed in around three weeks.

The DED system in particular is named as “Stargate” and we have covered this large metal printer system in more detail in a previous article here.

But by means of summary, the Stargate printer makes use of laser-equipped Kuka robotic arms to manufacture the components, and uses an aluminium wire as feedstock. The wire is fed into a laser beam where it forms a meltpool that is guided around the structure, adding material where the meltpool passes over.

This makes it a wire-fed DED system, as opposed to a powder-based DED system (both of which exist).

In addition to the various stages being made with metal AM, the rocket engines are also 3D printed using multi-material metal printing, in this case they are adding copper to the inside of the combustion chamber, which has better thermal conductivity and therefore increases engine efficiency. The engine is named as Aeon, and the Terran 1 will be equipped with 9 of these 3D printed engines on the first stage.

Aeon engine
Aeon engine (Image credit: Relativity Space)

The company is also working on the Terran R (for “Reusable”) and that will also feature larger versions of the Aeon engine.

Terran 1 first stage
Terran 1 first stage: people for scale. (Image credit: Relativity Space)

As you may recall from previous articles, the initial plan on this project was to have the rocket built from raw materials and be ready for flight in just 60 days. Typically a rocket would take 18 months to build from scratch using traditional manufacturing processes.

Also recently, the company shared video footage of a recent rocket engine test showing duty cycle testing at Stennis, demonstrating that their AM Aeon engine is capable of being switched on and off, and is capable of performing as required over the range of a typical flight.

You can see that video below.

The Terran 1 was initially slated to launch into orbit before the end of 2020, but then 2020 happened so things have been moved back a little, with the first proper flight scheduled sometime before the end of this year.

Terran 1: Relativity Space's Rocket to Launch Thai Satellite
Related Story
Terran 1: Relativity Space’s Rocket to Launch Thai Satellite
Relativity Space Cheaper Than Competitors
Related Story
How Relativity Space 3D Prints Rockets Cheaper Than Competitors
Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
About the author | Phillip Keane
Phillip is an aerospace engineer from UK. He is a graduate of Coventry University (UK), International Space University (France) and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), where he studied Advanced Manufacturing at the Singapore Centre for 3D Printing.
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Latest posts

3D-Printed Insects Help Scientists Map the Limits of Mimicry in Nature

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a method to 3D print life-sized, color-accurate insect models for biological research. The team, led... read more »

Environmental

University of Hong Kong Scientists Explore Growing Organs with 3D Printing Technology

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) are working to combine 3D-printed respiratory tissue with lab-grown organoids to create functional airways for... read more »

Bioprinting
University of Hong Kong Scientists Explore Growing Organs with 3D Printing Technology

SHINING 3D Unveils EinScan Rigil with Tri-Mode Scanning for Pro-Level Flexibility

SHINING 3D has launched its newest flagship 3D scanner, the EinScan Rigil — touted as the world’s first 3D scanner featuring Tri-Mode operation... read more »

News
SHINING 3D Unveils EinScan Rigil with Tri-Mode Scanning for Pro-Level Flexibility

ETH Zurich 3D Prints Recycled Plastic Structure for Swiss Ice Cream Shop

ETH Zurich students have completed a 3D-printed ice cream shop in the Swiss Alpine village of Mulegns. The project, called Gelateria, was designed... read more »

Construction
ETH Zurich 3D Prints Recycled Plastic Structure for Swiss Ice Cream Shop

Hugo Launches 3D Printed Loafers with Zellerfeld

Hugo, the younger brand under Hugo Boss, has partnered with 3D printing company Zellerfeld to create a fully 3D-printed loafer. The shoe is... read more »

Fashion
Hugo Launches 3D Printed Loafers with Zellerfeld

3D Printed Resin Combines Rubber Flexibility with Plastic Strength, Surprising Scientists

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a 3D printing method that can create objects with both soft and hard... read more »

News
3D Printed Resin Combines Rubber Flexibility with Plastic Strength, Surprising Scientists

LPE Supports Queen’s Propulsion Laboratory with 3D Printed Rocket Engine Chamber

Students at Queen's University Belfast have developed what they describe as Ireland's first student-built liquid rocket engine. The Kelvin Mk.1, named after Belfast-born... read more »

3D Printing Metal
LPE Supports Queen’s Propulsion Laboratory with 3D Printed Rocket Engine Chamber

Dassault Systèmes and Patrick Jouin Unveil New 3D Printed Chair

Dassault Systèmes and French designer Patrick Jouin have unveiled Ta.Tamu, a 3D-printed chair developed using the company's 3DEXPERIENCE platform. The project represents a... read more »

News
Dassault Systèmes and Patrick Jouin Unveil New 3D Printed Chair

Endemic Architecture Debuts 3D Printed Homes in Rural California

A development of five 3D-printed homes called Corduroy Castles is currently under construction in Olivehurst, California, a rural town in Yuba County located... read more »

Construction
Endemic Architecture Debuts 3D Printed Homes in Rural California

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Snapmaker Artisan Premium 3-in-1

    • - Print size: 400 x 400 x 400 mm
    • - comes with enclosure
    More details »
    $2,999.00 Snapmaker
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech X-Max 3

    • - Print size: 325 x 325 x 315 mm
    • - fully enclosed
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Plus4

    • - Print size: 305 x 305 x 280 mm
    • - print temperature of 370°C
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech Q1 Pro

    • - Print size: 245 x 245 x 245 mm
    • - 600mm/s max speed
    More details »
    $449.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
  • Creality Ender 5 S1
  • The Mole 3D Scanner
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2025 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing