Terran 1 is a expendabletwo-stagesmall-liftlaunch vehicle developed by Relativity Space since 2017 and expected to make its first flight in late 2022.[2][3][4] Unique to Relativity, most structures and components in the vehicle are manufactured with 3D printing processes.
The maximum payload was expected to be 1,250 kg (2,760 lb) to 185 km (115 mi) low Earth orbit (LEO). Relativity's advertised launch price was US$12 million per Terran 1 mission in June 2020.[1]
Design
Terran 1 consists of two stages. The first stage is powered by nine Aeon 1 engines burning methane and oxygen propellants in a gas-generator cycle, each producing 23,000 lbf (100 kN) of thrust. The second stage is powered by a single vacuum-optimized version of Aeon 1,[2] known as AeonVac, producing 28,300 lbf (126 kN) of thrust in vacuum.[5] Both stages will be autogenously pressurized.[citation needed]
The payload fairing measures 6.8 m (22 ft) long and has a diameter of 3 m (9.8 ft). Terran 1 is capable of up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) to low Earth orbit,[6] although Relativity commonly states a payload capacity of 1,250 kg (2,760 lb).[5]
The primary and secondary structures of Terran 1 are manufactured with Relativity's Stargate 3D printer out of a proprietary aluminum alloy.[6] 90% of Terran 1 by mass consists of printed components;[6] Relativity claims that they can reduce the part count in the vehicle by 100 times compared to traditionally-manufactured rockets and manufacture an entire flight article from raw materials in 60 days.[6][7] Relativity's in-development Terran R launch vehicle will utilize the same tooling used to manufacture Terran 1.[8][2]
Relativity advertised a price per launch for Terran 1 of US$10 million in 2019.[9] The advertised price per launch had been increased to US$12 million in 2021.[2][5]
Planned upgrades
In February 2022, Relativity CEO Tim Ellis stated in an interview with Ars Technica that the current configuration of Terran 1, with nine Aeon 1 engines on the first stage, will be replaced after the third flight with a stage featuring a single Aeon R engine with substantially higher thrust. The Aeon R engine is planned to be used on Relativity's much larger Terran R rocket.[10]
Launches
Relativity aims to conduct the first launch of Terran 1 in November 2022.[10]
$3 million contract for unspecified payload(s) in NASA's Venture Class Launch Services (VCLS) 2 program.[12] The ELaNa 42 mission, consisting of three CubeSats, will launch on this flight.[13]
Third flight of Terran 1, as detailed by Tim Ellis in an interview, will carry a payload for an undisclosed customer.[10] Last flight of Terran 1 before planned block upgrade.
The 2019 contract with Momentus included a first flight originally scheduled for 2021, with option for five additional flights in the future. The five flights will include launch of a Momentus Vigoride Extended space tug.[15]
Launch site will either be Cape Canaveral or Vandenberg. TriSept stated that the launch will feature one large primary payload accompanied with several smaller payloads.[17]
This Template lists historical, current, and future space rockets that at least once attempted (but not necessarily succeeded in) an orbital launch or that are planned to attempt such a launch in the future
Symbol † indicates past or current rockets that attempted orbital launches but never succeeded (never did or has yet to perform a successful orbital launch)
