March 11, (UPI) -The launch of a rocket constructed almost entirely of 3D-printed components was abandoned within a minute of lifting off on Saturday, only days after an earlier attempt was removed.
Rockets from Relativity Space Terran 1 were left standing on the launch pad following an abort sequence the company announced in a post on Twitter at around 4:34 p.m. (EST).
The company stated that the first abort occurred due to a “corner case in the stage separation automation” which “properly aborted” within a second after liftoff.
Relativity Space said that the team released an update to the vehicle’s automation and was able to recycle the vehicle to provide immediate launch at 4 p.m. at EST. In the final minute of the rocket may have launched within a three-hour launch timeframe.
An automated abort was triggered around T-45 seconds during that instantaneous launch window because fuel pressure for the rocket’s second stage was one pound-per-square-inch low.
“The team went HARD today and we intend to do so during our next attempt,” the company announced. “More to come on the new launch date and window soon.”
The aborts were announced shortly after the rocket was scheduled to take off at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Wednesday, but the launch was halted due to an automatic abort within two minutes of the launch.
Around 85% of the weight of the 110-foot tall two-stage rocket was produced using a 3D printer. It could play a significant factor in reducing the costs of space exploration in the coming years. Relativity stated that as high as 90% of future rockets could be constructed using the help of a 3D printer.
