For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM
JETTY PARK/PORT CANAVERAL, FL – Relativity Space, a California-based New Space startup aborted the first launch attempt of their first 3D printed Terran 1 rocket Wednesday afternoon, March 8, about 1 minute before liftoff from Florida’s Space Coast – after a thermal control technical issue with Liquid Oxygen (LOX) propellant in the second stage could not be resolved in time before the 3-hour long window of opportunity closed.
EDIT Mar 12: 2nd launch attempt on Mar 11 scrubbed. New Target TBD. NET Mar 17 at 1 AM
The history making liftoff of Terran 1 – the world’s first almost entirely 3D printed rocket – has been retargeted to Sat., March 11, to give engineers time to resolve the technical issue.
Player ready? Yup. Our next launch attempt window is confirmed for this Saturday, March 11 from 13:00 – 16:00 ET. #GLHF pic.twitter.com/lBXCm9nNeG
— Relativity Space (@relativityspace) March 8, 2023
“All parties, we are scrubbing operations for the day,” said Launch Director Clay Walker. “Thanks for playing.”
There was a large public crowd eager to witness the historic launch from Jetty Park Pier and Beach – where we were also on hand.
But we will all have to wait a few more days.
The weather still looks to be outstanding on Saturday and is 90% GO!
The launch was initially automatically aborted by a computer at about T Minus 70 seconds.
The upper stage LOX was not at the proper operating temperature for liftoff.
The team then worked to fix the issues and then reset the new T Zero to 3:45 p.m. in hope of launching just prior to the window closing for the day. But it was not be since more time was needed to safely review and evaluate all the data.
So they decided to stand down for a few days – until after the SpaceX OneWeb 17 launch on Mar 9.
“Today’s launch attempt for #GLHF Terran 1 was scrubbed due to exceeding launch commit criteria limits for propellant thermal conditions on stage 2. The team is working diligently toward our next launch window in the coming days. Check back here soon for updates on the launch window for our next attempt. To all of you who tuned in today, as our launch director said: Thanks for playing! #GLHF,” Relativity Space tweeted.
“When using liquid natural gas, the methane needs time to get to the right concentration. This is why our next attempt will be a few days from now. More to come soon!”
Today’s launch attempt for #GLHF Terran 1 was scrubbed due to exceeding launch commit criteria limits for propellant thermal conditions on stage 2. The team is working diligently toward our next launch window in the coming days. Check back here soon for updates on the launch… https://t.co/LxWJzfZ9BI pic.twitter.com/M4RVu6EkR8
— Relativity Space (@relativityspace) March 8, 2023
Liftoff of Terran 1 is reset to a 3 hour long launch window that opens at 1 p.m. ET, March 11 from Space Launch Complex-16 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
The launch window runs until 4 p.m. ET (1800 GMT).
You can watch the launch live at Relativity Space broadcast:
Tune in, March 11, 2023. #GLHF https://t.co/HnHpMUXPHf
— Relativity Space (@relativityspace) March 8, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YAlOGZM32U
The Space UpClose team of Ken Kremer and Jean Wright will be watching from Jetty Park Beach.
The rocket is nicknamed called “Good luck, have fun” or GLHF
Terran means ‘of the Earth.’
The weather forecast is forecast to be >90% GO by Space Force weather forecasters
No payload is aboard for this maiden orbital launch attempt.
It will roar off the pad in an easterly trajectory and targeting a low Earth orbit (LEO) and achieving an altitude of more than 124 miles (200 km) and an inclination of 28.5 degrees to the equator.
“This launch of Terran 1 is the first orbital attempt by Relativity and will not include a customer payload,” says Relativity Space.
“Terran 1 is the largest 3D printed object to attempt orbital flight.”
This inaugural Terran 1 rocket is about 85% 3D printed and Relativity Space hopes to increase that to about 95% in the future
The advantages of 3D printing is that the rocket has far fewer moving parts and reliability should be significantly improved – with the goal of vastly reducing the cost of access to space.
In the future the hope is that 3D printed rockets could be manufactured directly and more easily on the Moon and Mars – slashing costs
The two stage expendable Relativity Space Terran 1 rocket stands 110-foot-tall (33.5-meter) and 7.5 ft wide
We saw Terran 1 vertical at pad 16 while it was standing erect and undergoing testing at pad 16 – at the same time as SpaceX was landing a Falcon 9 first stage boost at Landing Zone-1 a few miles away from our vantage point at Space Launch Complex-34 watching the SpaceX OneWeb launch last Fall.
The Terran 1 rocket is fueled by liquid methane natural gas (LNG) and liquid oxygen (LOX).
Propellant load on #Terran1 is underway ahead of its first launch. #GLHF pic.twitter.com/MwzgO4B2gc
— Relativity Space (@relativityspace) March 8, 2023
The first stage is powered by nine 3D printed Aeon-1 engines and one Aeon Vac on its second stage.
“Like its structure, all Relativity engines are entirely 3D printed, and use liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid natural gas (LNG), which are not only the best for rocket propulsion, but also for reusability, and the easiest to eventually transition to methane on Mars.”
Follow along for updates on Relativity’s lead up to launch:
https://twitter.com/relativityspace
The first stage thrust generates about 207,000 pounds of liftoff thrust
The cost of the rocket is some $12 million
Here is a Terran-1 launch timeline from Spaceflight Now
COUNTDOWN TIMELINE
- T-minus 7 hours: Vehicle power-up and checkouts
- T-minus 4 hours: Personnel clear the launch pad; Methane and liquid oxygen loading begins
- T-minus 60 minutes: Propellant loading complete
- T-minus 16 minutes: Launch director performs pre-launch readiness poll
- T-minus 10 minutes: Automated countdown sequence begins
In the final 10 minutes of the countdown, the Terran 1 rocket’s nine methane-fueled Aeon 1 engines will be thermally conditioned for flight through a procedure known as chilldown. The ignitors will be primed, and the Terran 1 will switch from its ground power supply to internal power. The strongback at the launch pad will be partially retracted in the final minutes before launch.
- T-minus 1 minute, 10 seconds: Terminal countdown begins to run checks for launch commit criteria
- T-minus 6 seconds: Ignition of Terran 1’s nine Aeon 1 main engines; Automated health check begins
- T-minus 0 seconds: Four hold-down devices release the Terran 1 rocket for liftoff
Watch Ken’s commentary about NASA. Project Artemis SLS and Orion, SpaceX Falcon Heavy, Crew-5 & 6, NASA SpaceX Crew & Cargo Dragons and more
Mar 11/12: WKMG CBS 6 Orlando News post scrub interview about scrub maiden Terran 1 of 2nd launch attempt:
Mar 8/9: WFTV ABC News and Fox 35 New Orlando pre and post scrub interview about maiden Terran 1 launch attempt:
Mar 7: WFTV ABC News Orlando interview about upcoming maiden Terran1 launch by Relativity Space on Mar 8
Mar 6/7: WFTV ABC News Orlando interview about upcoming maiden #Terran1 launch by Relativity Space on Mar 8 from pad 16 CCSFS. Worlds 1st 3D printed rocket:
Mar 2: Fox 35 Orlando live interview about the Crew-6 mission launch to the ISS
Feb 26/27/28: On 3 local Networks CBS WKMG , ABC WFTV and Fox 35 Orlando -I did series of live and taped interviews pre and post scrub explaining why NASA SpaceX Crew6 astronaut launch to ISS was scrubbed at T Minus 2 minutes to keep the crew and rocket safe and what needs to be done to resolve the issue why TEA-TEB (triethylaluminum triethylboron) igniter fluid failed to fully load on Falcon 9 rocket
Feb 9/10: WFTV ABC News Orlando interview about SpaceX Starship successful static fire test of 31 Raptor engines at Boca Chica
Feb 8/9: WFTV ABC News Orlando interview about how NASA needs a definitive and fully funded plan to deorbit the ISS safely in case of an emergency and serious debris hit causing it to lose control b4 it’s terminated in 2030- in light of the recent Soyuz crew capsule leak from micrometeoroid impact
Jan 3/4: WFTV ABC News Orlando interview about Jan 3 SpaceX Transporter 6 launch – 1st of 2023 – and record setting year ahead with many exciting missions for NASA and private astronauts, science probes, mission, US Space Force, new rockets like ULA Vulcan & more!
Dec 28/29: Fox 35 Orlando – Watch my commentary about NASA’s fantastic success in space exploration in 2022 and ambitious schedule of whats ahead in 2023:
https://www.fox35orlando.com/video/1159922
Dec 11/12: BBC World News TV interview about successful splashdown of NASA Orion concluding the 25 day Artemis 1 lunar test flight around the Moon and back, and how that sets up a human return to the Moon on Artemis 2 and landing on Artemis 3. Plus what’s beyond for NASA deep space exploration to Mars and the search for life beyond Earth
Watch Ken’s continuing reports about Artemis, SpaceX missions, SLS, Orion and NASA missions, SpaceX Crew and Cargo Dragons, SpaceX Axiom, JWST, DART, Lucy Asteroid mission, GOES, SpaceX Starlink, Commercial Crew and Starliner and Crew Dragon, Blue Origin and Space Tourism, and onsite for live reporting of upcoming and recent SpaceX and ULA launches including Crew 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5, ISS, Solar Orbiter, Mars 2020 Perseverance and Curiosity rovers, NRO spysats and national security missions and more at the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Stay tuned here for Ken’s continuing Earth and Planetary science and human spaceflight news: www.spaceupclose.com – twitter @ken_kremer – email: ken at kenkremer.com
Dr. Kremer is a research scientist and journalist based in the KSC area, active in outreach and interviewed regularly on TV and radio about space topics.
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Upcoming and recent space events and talks by Ken Kremer & Jean Wright
Jan 21-28: Carnival Cruise Ship Mardi Gras: “What Happening at NASA and Space Exploration” & SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink 5-2 launch viewing party Jan 26
Jan 12, 2023: 10 AM at Westminster Retirement Center in Orlando/Winter Park, Florida: Presentation by Jean Wright – “Sew Sister to the Stars- How the Humble Art of Sewing Transformed the World of Flight”+ Artemis 1 Moon rocket update
Nov 29 at UCF, Orlando Florida: Presentation by Jean Wright – “Sew Sister to the Stars- How the Humble Art of Sewing Transformed the World of Flight”
Mar 1, 2, 12,13; Feb 4, 11, 24, 25, 26; Jan 7,11- 2023; from 7 to 9 PM Quality Inn, Titusville, FL: Join Ken and Jean for Artemis 1, Falcon Heavy and space mission and rocket launch outreach. Ask us anything. plus display our photos and space apparel items for sale
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