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<\/p>\nRelativity Space, leveraging their 3D printing technology, has announced the next step towards supporting multiplanetary spaceflight: a fully reusable, medium lift launch vehicle named Terran R.<\/p>\n
The company\u2019s second launch vehicle, succeeding the Terran 1 rocket to debut later this year, will have more payload capacity than the partially reusable SpaceX Falcon 9, and is only the second fully reusable commercial launch vehicle to be revealed publicly after SpaceX\u2019s Starship.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The two stage Terran R rocket will be 216 feet (65.8 meters) tall and 16 feet (4.9 meters) in diameter. The second stage features aerodynamic surfaces which will enable recovery and reuse, in addition to a reusable 5 meter diameter payload fairing. Terran R will be capable of delivering over 20,000 kilograms to Low Earth Orbit in its reusable configuration, beating Falcon 9\u2019s 15,600 kilograms with drone ship recovery.<\/p>\n
Just like Terran 1, Relativity\u2019s small lift vehicle offering 1,250 kilograms to Low Earth Orbit, the components for Terran R will be 3D printed. Relativity Space aims to reduce cost and improve reliability by designing 3D printed vehicles with a low part count.<\/p>\n
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Scale comparison of Relativity\u2019s Terran 1 and Terran R launch vehicles \u2013 via Relativity Space<\/p>\n
\u201cTogether with our first rocket Terran 1, our second product, Terran R, will continue to take advantage of Relativity\u2019s disruptive approach to 3D printing \u2013 reduced part count, improved speed of innovation, flexibility, and reliability,\u201d said Tim Ellis, CEO and co-founder of Relativity Space.<\/p>\n
What differentiates Terran R from its predecessor is reusability and size. Terran 1 is a fully expendable small lift launch vehicle, while Terran R with full reusability is firmly in the medium lift launch market. Compared to the partially reusable Falcon rocket family, Terran R will offer a payload capacity between that of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy.<\/p>\n
Powering the first stage of Terran R will be seven Aeon R rocket engines, generating 302,000 lb (1,343 kN) of thrust each. The Aeon R engine is a scaled up, high pressure version of the gas generator cycle Aeon 1 engine to be used on Terran 1\u2019s first stage.<\/p>\n
SpaceX (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n The upper stage of Terran R will utilize the same Aeon Vacuum engine as Terran 1\u2019s second stage. A pathfinder Aeon Vacuum engine completed full duration testing earlier this year at Relativity\u2019s engine testing facilities at the NASA Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.<\/p>\n Like almost all components on the Terran launch vehicles, the Aeon engines are all 3D printed.<\/p>\n Both Terran launch vehicles are fueled by liquid methane and liquid oxygen, alongside several next generation American commercial launch vehicles such as SpaceX\u2018s Starship, Blue Origin\u2018s New Glenn, and United Launch Alliance\u2018s Vulcan rockets.<\/p>\n Terran R is scheduled to debut in 2024. The vehicle will utilize the same launch pad as Terran 1, debuting later this year: Launch Complex 16 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.<\/p>\n