First Terran 1 launch fails to reach orbit
Posted: Sat, Mar 25, 2023, 11:25 AM ET (1525 GMT)
Relativity Space launched its first Terran 1 rocket Wednesday night, exceeding expectations even while falling short of orbit. The Terran 1 lifted off at 11:25 pm EDT (0325 GMT Thursday) from Cape Canaveral on a test flight called "Good Luck, Have Fun" by the company. The rocket's first stage performed as planned, passing through Max-Q, or the maximum dynamic pressure on the vehicle. The rocket's upper stage separated nearly three minutes after liftoff but its engine appeared to malfunction and shut down seconds later, keeping the rocket from reaching orbit. Despite the failure to reach orbit, Relativity still celebrated the launch, arguing that it demonstrated the rocket's 3D-printed structures could handle the rigors of flight.
Relativity Space launched its first Terran 1 rocket Wednesday night, exceeding expectations even while falling short of orbit. The Terran 1 lifted off at 11:25 pm EDT (0325 GMT Thursday) from Cape Canaveral on a test flight called "Good Luck, Have Fun" by the company. The rocket's first stage performed as planned, passing through Max-Q, or the maximum dynamic pressure on the vehicle. The rocket's upper stage separated nearly three minutes after liftoff but its engine appeared to malfunction and shut down seconds later, keeping the rocket from reaching orbit. Despite the failure to reach orbit, Relativity still celebrated the launch, arguing that it demonstrated the rocket's 3D-printed structures could handle the rigors of flight.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Virgin Galactic conducts first suborbital spaceflight since 2021
Posted: Sat, May 27 10:56 AM ET (1456 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, May 30
Shenzhou 16 lifts off with China’s first civilian astronaut on board
South China Morning Post — 5:34 am ET (0934 GMT) China launches Shenzhou 16 on post-assembly space station mission
collectSPACE — 5:34 am ET (0934 GMT) Xi Charm Offensive Turns to Space as ‘Divine Craft’ Launches
Bloomberg News — 5:33 am ET (0933 GMT) Shenzhou-16 astronauts arrive at China’s space station
Space News — 5:31 am ET (0931 GMT) North Korea says "reconnaissance satellite" to be launched in June
Kyodo International — 5:30 am ET (0930 GMT) |
