A rocket made almost entirely of 3D-printed parts was poised to blast off Wednesday on its debut launch.
California-based Relativity Space is attempting to launch the rocket to orbit from a former missile site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
It’s a relatively small rocket, just 33m, and won’t be carrying anything for this test flight except for a memento: the first successful metal 3D print from the company’s printers.
About 85 per cent of the rocket, named Terran, is made of 3D parts printed at the company’s factory in Long Beach, California, including its engines. Relativity Space aims to increase that percentage on its future versions.
