Relativity Space launch hits milestones but couldn’t hit orbit

Relativity Space managed to launch its 3D-printed Terran 1 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, but an issue with its second-stage engine prevented the ultimate goal of reaching orbit.

Still, the Long Beach, California-based startup company hit several milestones on the mission dubbed “GLHF,” as in “Good Luck, Have Fun” including liftoff from the pad, hitting supersonic speeds, enduring maximum dynamic pressure, main engine cutoff and separation of the first and second stages.

Video of the liftoff at 11:25 p.m. Wednesday showed the blue flame from its nine Aeon 1 engines burning into the night sky as company commentators broke out in cheers and laughter.

“We are on our way to making new history. Terran 1 came ready to play today,” said test and launch program manager Arwa Tizani Kelly during the live stream. “We just completed a major step in proving to the world that 3D-printed rockets are structurally viable”

Video, though, showed a sputtering flame in the single Aeon vacuum engine that was supposed to power the second stage to its orbital destination.

Teams will delve into the issues that prevented the final run of its rocket, but Relativity officials have been saying all along that this first launch, which did not have a customer payload, is a pathfinder for its future plans to build an even larger rocket called Terran R.

“Maiden launches are always exciting and today’s flight was no exception,” said Tizani Kelly. “Although we didn’t reach orbit, we significantly exceeding our key objectives for this first launch.”

The company once again muscled through issues ahead of launch including holds for high-level winds and a boat that ventured into the Eastern Range, but was able to finally light the engines and take off from Launch Complex 16 after two attempts earlier in March ended up in scrubs.

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