After two failed launch attempts earlier in the month, Terran 1—a rocket primarily built from 3D-printed parts—finally managed to take off on Wednesday. The rocket never reached orbit, but key milestones met during the short-lived mission could set Relativity Space on the path to future success with its potentially revolutionary launch system.
Terran-1 is 85% 3D-printed by mass, but it’s also powered by a liquid methane-oxygen propellant known as methalox. This novel rocket fuel combined with the nighttime launch set the stage for a fascinating and rare site: a bright blue plume.
