Can a 3-D Printed Rocket Compete With SpaceX? | WSJ

Startup Relativity Space is developing the world's first 3-D printed rocket, which it says is cheaper and quicker to manufacture than conventional rockets.
Ahead of the company’s first orbital launch attempt, WSJ visited its California facility to meet founder Tim Ellis.
0:00 Startup Relativity Space is creating new ways to manufacture rockets
0:51 Background on the global commercial space industry
2:47 How Relativity uses 3-D printers to produce rockets faster
3:30 Relativity’s 3-D printers use proprietary metal alloys
3:50 To refine its rocket designs, Relativity uses algorithms and machine learning
4:20 Following Terran-1, Terran-R is the second rocket from Relativity
6:30 Relativity is planning to be first for a commercial mission to Mars, before Space-X
#Space #Rocket #WSJ

[@liamsnell5549]

I think it's great to have new competitors in the orbital rocket industry, and in my opinion, Relativity Space is well-positioned for success. The ability to 3D print a rocket provides a number of benefits, including cost reduction, part optimization, and faster production times. However, it's important to consider that some of these advantages become obsolete when investing in a fully reusable launch system. With reusable rockets, you don't need to build as many of them, and the costs for the company become almost negligible compared to competitors. It's just something to keep in mind.

[@nottera]

That optimization might be very useful for reusable rockets development, since the iteration time is so short, they may have advantages as they can test new products faster (in a move fast and break things way)

[@CHAPT3R]

Agree with you but it's not only about making new rockets, it's about how flawless design we can get.

[@lokidoki471]

Iteration time for newer rocket designs is probably the main thing, that and production time.

[@SPCv4]

Swear to god this comment was made by ChatGPT

[@Unbaguettable]

the R in Terran R stands for reusability. They're trying to make a fully reusable, but also 3d printable rocket. Being able to 3d print parts not only saves time on repairs (if needed), it also makes iterations quick and easier. All in all it's a very good thing what they're trying to do :)

[@robertmines5391]

Very brave. 3d printed metal alloys have a complex microstructure and 3d printed structures are subject to voids, lack of fusion and residual stresses. It will be interesting to see how these large structures perform under the high stresses involved.

[@Pangolin-Mandolin]

Right?! But like Bill Burr mentioned when discussing the first face lifts - any new technology is going to have its breaking in period. And with 3D printing technology, we are absolutely in the equivalent of the people who took a chance with the new procedure and always came out looking like a lizard, but I think (thanks to the exponential growth of knowledge we're lucky enough to experience) sooner rather than later, we'll be at the (in 3D printing terms) technical equivalent of a person who accidentally shoots off their face with a shotgun but has a very good chance of surgeons fixing most, if not all of the damage. The things that we will be able to print in the future, will be unimaginable to people only a decade or so earlier

[@robertmines5391]

I take your points. For the last 20 years I have been working in laser powder bed fusion 3d printing ( and have written a book ' Metallic Microlattice Structures' ) and so know the fundamental technical issues. I am surprised Relativity Space has not done more component testing and has not launched a smaller test vehicle. But Relativity Space (and Spacex) have a ' can do' attitude, which is refreshing. Certainly 3d printing will underpin space exploration, not only for space vehicles but also habitats and manufacturing on planets with various materials.

[@Pangolin-Mandolin]

@@robertmines5391 Wow! So you're one of those rare people who get to say, "I wrote the book on laser bed powder printing", that's pretty cool! Do you think that because of how advanced some 3D printing already was at the time of getting investors, and how many competitors arose in such a short time, Relativity Space went for orbit without doing more tests both to reassure existing investors whilst hoping to gain more capital upon success? Also, (as you can probably tell, I'm not educated) do you think printing on the molecular scale will eventually become common place? D.N.A., drugs, synthetic meat for food, human organs in 0g, etc? 100% agree it will be an essential component that will make space happen for us

[@robertmines5391]

I have not researched the details of Relativity Space activities..but I do hope they are successful. You can 3d print anything..any material...any scale from meters down to nano meters... As a general comment on laser powder bed fusion, the technology development over the last 20 years has been driven by 3d printing machine manufacturers.. this means that the underlying technology has been empirically developed..only now is the fundamental materials science being addressed..such as high fidelity modelling in which the powder and laser are modelled, as is the melting and solidification and resultant microstructure of the metal...

[@jackb3493]

I’ve seen no evidence that 3d printing tanks provides any benefit to cost reduction, structural designs , or reducing tooling cost

[@eaaeeeea]

Glad to see a "progress report" from Relativity. It really seems they have their funding secured as they've been at it for years already. Looking forward to their first successful launch.

[@susanamaclean2597]

March 8th, 1300-1600!

[@whcolours9995]

Happy to see a bit more coverage on Relativity. Very interesting company.

[@paveldrumev2117]

I discovered Relativity Space and instantly became a fan of this concept.

[@Level-up-your-life]

I think I spent a day researching Tim Ellis and his company after watching the vertasim documentary about 3d printed rockets

[@DeanBonehillDeano]

This is an amazing venture at the cutting edge of the development of a new Hypergrowth Industry , demonstrating that great leadership, a great team. innovation, following the 4 M's that I look for , Meaning, wide Moat, Great Management and a Margin of Safety #Rule1 #Relativityspace We watch with great interest as the next chapter unfolds.

[@becomingyourselfcoach]

They had me up until it saying Relativity announced to launch their first commercial mission to Mars in 2024. Seems unrealistically ambitious when they haven't even had one successful launch.

[@PrograError]

Well they are probably aiming for a drone explorer anyways... Plus SpaceX aimed for the moon and kind of got more for that... (I think the Tesla went Mars-ward and back...)

[@chrisspry8736]

Mar 22, 2023

[@DaveDFX]

Anyone who says Mars it’s just a sales pitch to get investors and customers. Space X was to launch to Mars 2022 if I remember correct.

[@sherpadoug]

3-D printed metal alloys is their hammer, so they see every challenge as a nail. Here it is mid-February. I am not holding my breath waiting for their first rocket to reach orbit.

[@susanamaclean2597]

Launch date to March 8th.

[@user-im7sj7gr2v]

🤪👉Starchip Starchip Starchip Starchip Starchip Starchip Starchip Starchip. POTENTIAL. 👈🤑

[@Ejckej]

Metal 3D printing technology isn't a new concept, but Relativity developed it in such a manner it becomes a practical approach for large parts. This is the company's biggest advantage. Even if rocket manufacturing turned out to be unfeasible (which I suppose it won't), they can still use this platform for manufacturing flight hardware for planes for example. This would have several benefits over traditional methods including part reduction (leading to reduced number of potential points of failure eg joints etc), as well as cost and weight reduction. This consequently leads to better performance of such planes, lower environmental impact and even fuel (=$) savings...

[@SorminaESar]

Good news, thanks so much WSJ to inform us🙏

[@chincity]

I love this! Innovation is key! And I think making it easy for us to get equipment into space will be so important for tomorrows growth

[@ThreeSixFour]

WSJ use SpaceX name in title as click bait, no shame

[@manofsan]

*I'd worry that 3D-printed walls will inherently be structurally weaker than stress-formed walls. Why should we believe otherwise?* 🤔 We're talking about pressure vessels here. Does anybody make 3D-printed pressure vessels for any other applications?

[@PrograError]

Well... Metal 3D printing is essentially just welding anyway and welds are quite strong from what I know. There might be a chance for it to work, plus I'm sure they did do the pressure vessel test that ULA and spaceX did do for their legacy method version of space hardware.

[@manofsan]

​ @Farb S - so when every point is welded that adds up to a lot of welds. How do we know that every single weld is good, when there are so many? All it takes is one bad one for things to go wrong.

[@manofsan]

@@PrograError - Ever heard of Electro-forming? I've read it can make exceptionally strong parts which are all seamless. I'm wondering if that could be a better method of manufacturing.

[@SDGreg]

I guess we will see how it performs in the real world.

[@diffractionlee3639]

Actually the outer wall is not a pressurized vessel. The fuel tanks and the combustion chambers are.

[@JigilJigil]

I like how he presented his company on par with SpaceX, despite the fact that they have not yet launch anything into orbit and their rockets looks like toothpicks compared to SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Starship (size-wise and capability-wise).

[@georgeb.3292]

It's a classic PR tactic in order to get investors' money and media headlines like this one ''The next SpaceX'' etc etc. New EV start-ups like Lucid, Rivian etc did the same calling themselves ''the next Tesla, Tesla competitors'' etc etc

[@chrisspry8736]

launched on Mar 22, 2023. huge success for the fist launch. Also, I'm pretty sure the point was that it's on par with spacex's falcon 1 rocket. the terran 1 is essentially for smallsat launches. besides, everyone has to start somewhere.

[@edumacation7567]

This is hella cool!

[@georgfrap]

This company has definitely found a solution where there is quite literally no problem to be solved, there is no need to print tubes when the current techniques are that well understood and so reliable, but they certainly have potential wherever they use bionic structures.

[@susanamaclean2597]

They're solving a lot of problems: 1000 times fewer parts reduces opportunities for failure; manufacturing will be 2 months instead of 6 months; and iterations with new design innovations can take 6 months instead of 48 months.

[@georgfrap]

@@susanamaclean2597 Absolutely wrong, now there are infinitely more parts and more opportunities for error and potential defect, because every single new line that is made by this 3D printer has to be treated as a new part, and will most likely be checked for defects, because that's how it's done in pipe construction, except that in pipe production a few welds have to be checked, and in this incredibly nonsensical production style, the whole pipe is actually only welds

[@susanamaclean2597]

@@georgfrap Right, because all of the materials engineers and aerospace engineers at Relativity have 3D printed these rockets willy nilly without testing any of their alloys, printing techniques, or printed structures. They're just winging it.

[@georgfrap]

@@susanamaclean2597 Your argument isn't really that bright, 3 d printing is a much more newer technique than welding pipes for example, and yet every single seam is controlled in welding, are you suggesting that the engineers and material test engineers of the past just didn't trust the properties of the materials and their technique enough to be as smart

[@thestockfother]

​@@georgfrap she's just reciting marketing points without any basis for reasons.

[@ernestkumeh3800]

What is the z-axis strength of Relativity special aluminum alloy print vs stainless steel 316?

[@pjmazan]

The tuxedo jacket has real Step Brothers vibes

[@kylesosa3562]

Creating solutions to problems that doesn't exist is a problem in itself😂

[@DaveDFX]

It’s gonna have to start somewhere. Look at cars when they replaced horses 100 years ago.

[@denishennessy1318]

Amazing

[@DjSharperimage]

This is awesome! I think it's going to bring the cost of space travel down by a lot.

[@shaider1982]

I think this was featured in a veritasium video. They use Starcraft names for many places in their factory.

[@mukamuka0]

This is interesting! You can just stack up a lot of printer and and print 10 rocket at the same time

[@nicholasf.377]

Man this guy is incredible. I wish I have enough brains to do something like that.

[@davidlee50]

I wish you people the Best!

[@posthocprior]

How does Relativity know that its metal alloy and its printing process is going to withstand the pressures of launch and going to space? (This was the questions that I wanted the report to answer.)

[@AM1N4L]

I know right. Those seams look sketchy af.

[@wtfyman]

I imagine theyve done some tests to verify the quality is what it needs to be? All these products are made through countless design iterations. Make a prototype, simulate the conditions (temps, pressures, vibrations etc.) and see what happens, improve until you have confidence to get through the next gate etc. If theyve just gone all in without making baby steps then oopsie? Im sure their investors wouldnt be that negligent?!? We will find out.

[@manofsan]

​ @wtfyman - yeah, but will this stuff hold up under reusability and repeated re-use? It's like every single point is a seam. Have you all heard of Electro-forming? That can produce exceptionally strong parts, and I think that tech needs to be looked too, to see if it can be adapted to 3D-printing methods.

[@posthocprior]

@@wtfyman If this is true, it should have mentioned.

[@susanamaclean2597]

@@wtfyman Yes, they test absolutely everything.

[@Atipat12]

AMAZING 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@regolith1350]

FYI, Relativity recently announced they will significantly scale back their use of 3-D printing. Many parts, including the scalloped tank domes, will still be printed, but the tank barrel sections (which is the majority of the rocket structure) will be made using conventional manufacturing methods.

[@antialias4205]

this ^

[@wanderingfennec]

Oh finally! Good move!

[@BlueJazzBoyNZ]

New Zealand Rocket-Lab Neutron

[@United_Wings]

Nice

[@phox.2234]

Very good video, one thing is that Relativity is not the only aerospace company that is vertically stacked. SpaceX is the biggest vertical integrator, and other rocket companies like rocket lab are also integrated in this manner.

[@hannahh1280]

💯💯💯

[@SuperHans700]

If 3D printing can scale to large structures like buildings, that seems like it would be a game changer

[@sfguzmani]

The problem with that is there's a lot more to consider in building a building like foundation, electrical, plumbing, hvac, etc. you can't just simply 3d print them and that can actually more costly than simply buying the ones that are readily available materials. The one thing that 3d printed rockets differ from buildings is that rocket components are hard and expensive to outsource, that is why 3d printing them is acually can save time and money.

[@DjSharperimage]

They already 3D print houses.

[@user-im7sj7gr2v]

🤣😂🤪😜👉Colonisar Mars 👈

[@marsspacex6065]

Printing stuff will be good for the moon and mars for infrastructure.

[@gameboxlive254]

in my opinion, i think th title of this short video should have been, CAN A 3D PRINTED ROCKET GET INTO ORBIT? we need to encourage rather than compete.

[@MDRahman-sq4rs]

Wow! The US has so many rocket and space companies (existing and start-ups).

[@aronhayse9895]

trust their will be alot more alot of billionaires wanna take control of space tourism and the sweet sweet asteroids

[@W9HJBill]

Given they scrubbed the launch last week and then scrubbed the rescheduled launch attempt just yesterday, odds are it's not happening any time soon.

[@gilesclement]

Love the kid wearing the tuxedo jacket.

[@Inception1338]

it seems to be so super important to launch stuff into space...

[@susanamaclean2597]

If you use a cell phone, yeah, you want satellites, which have to be launched into space, so.

[@CrasyFingers]

is it confirmed yet if it launches at the end of the month?

[@susanamaclean2597]

March 8th, 1300-1600 ET.

[@zipsexe]

6:44 Rocket Lab and Firefly Aerospace : 👁👄👁

[@franklinegbuche7097]

Good luck to them.

[@yammy1688]

Congrats

[@pauldannelachica2388]

US rocket companies are very cool

[@setituptoblowitup]

Good luck stringer bead rocket 🚀 you will need it 🍀

[@Bearsio]

We should send these machines to Mars so we can auto print return rockets and landing zones.

[@jaridkeen123]

Rocket Lab also 3D prints there rockets. So they arnt the only one

[@anthonyfn]

The manufacturing techniques seem cool... the rocket launch appears to be a 3-D printed pipedream.

[@153SCORN]

Not complete...but they can fill places in the market.

[@auro1986]

ask can a 3d printer be 3d printed?

[@seanpierre1338]

Chamath 👀

[@waynes84]

Ambition ambition ambition... can we see an actual test launch?

[@susanamaclean2597]

March 8th, 1300-1600.

[@chrisspry8736]

Mar 22, 2023

[@susanamaclean2597]

Terran 1 launched last Wednesday. It reached and passed MaxQ, the point at which the rocket is under the greatest pressure. The structure held and the rocket crossed the Karman line into space.

[@hikodzu]

👍

[@jackcloud8547]

SpaceX will always wins

[@STOPEJECTPLAY]

KINDER GARDEN ROCKET. THEY ARE DECEIVING US LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

[@noahgossett6134]

Relativity knocks blue origin out the park.

[@cameronvincent]

Space X uses VLD which 3D prints engine parts

[@Atipat12]

COOL 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

[@stephensfarms7165]

No one can win against SpaceX SpaceX is the best in space. 16 launches already this year ‼️‼️‼️‼️

[@maximeschurmans4612]

To me, 3d printing of rockets seems like a solution looking for a problem. Is it actually cheaper and faster to print a rocket that to make it? Not convinced..

[@Karl-Benny]

Tesla and Space x had their fair share of Nay Sayers Good luck to them for trying something different

[@infinitelyexplosive4131]

"They use coding and algorithms so the drones didn't crash into each other"

[@rocketkinger2506]

For the layman. This is not as impressive as you think. “Custom alloys” (adding 0.5% Ti), “no welding” (whole thing is welded). This company is Rivian in the space world. It’s second to market optimizing the wrong solution. Long is wrong, tight is right. -SpaceXr

[@manofsan]

I agree with your saying "long is wrong, tight is right" but I don't see how it applies here. 3D-printing economizes on material and automates the entire process. So what is Relativity doing that's contrary to your saying? I agree that welding every single point, as opposed to stress-shaping a molten-cast piece, can be structurally inferior. What about Electro-forming, have you heard of that? I think Electro-formed parts can be very strong, and I wonder if this method can be adapted to 3D-printing.

[@generallprince5546]

Revolutionary way to replace humans

[@rachmadsuhartono]

Looks like "my" rocket

[@anypercentdeathless]

Get ready for ornithopters!

[@whyumadbiatch]

Ok cool but can a 3d printer build a 3d printer?

[@Futuristbillpicone]

From 100K to 50K trips to the moon.

[@2ndAmendmentMF]

They need to merge with space x

[@RocketMan313]

Look like they consciously made the decision to not name Jordan Noone as a cofounder. Why?

[@dumitrulangham1721]

If they pull this off I think they will be real threat to spacex!

[@chrisspry8736]

Mar 22, 2023 :)

[@Atipat12]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@alecgladkov8573]

ok now do spacex

[@faikerdogan2802]

Anyone here at launch time ? XD

[@martyanderson3390]

No, the weight penalty’s of this manufacturing process are terrible, it’s great for some components, but horrible for the airframe. The payload capacity will suffer terribly. It’s more of a novelty.

[@bmanpura]

Hmm.. Too fast growing. A very good idea, but please be very careful..

[@NameNotAlreadyTaken2]

Clickbait title. This company isn't competing with SpaceX and also isn't trying to. Like single prop planes don't compete with 737s, they're completely separate markets.

[@dumitrulangham1721]

😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮

[@tonicalloway7227]

What!...really?..I like that name "relativity"..like einstein's theory of relativity..interesting..

[@shannonpace9433]

You actually have to launch it first.

[@chrisspry8736]

Mar 22, 2023

[@sr4087]

No; but space x will buy them

[@ahsenmukhtar]

3d printing is for making complex objects? Who creates a pipe using 3d printing 😆

[@craigleomegle2433]

Your mom

[@HexaSquirrel]

@@looperbirhinger7043 Not with wire deposition resolution, no. All the sub-assemblies that connect the engines to the rocket are traditionally CNC machined. It really is the most pointless application of welding.

[@Midknight1979]

Space 🚀 are just 🎈's with fireworks coming out the back....

[@thestockfother]

Interesting.... They said it could be grow to 650bn except Goldman sachs, jpm and Citigroup in publications said they see it potentially exceeding $1 trillion in capacity. Someone is lying somewhere. Also this comes off more as marketing, good PR before their launch considering they're behind in infrastructure Tha. Rocket labs who is also pion erring new processes. Edit: had to add that by the end of the clip, dude says *we're looking to go to Mars by next year* 😂😂 yeah.... Okay.... This is confirmed as strictly a PR clip. 0 credibility for this channel going forward. They started 6 years ago and are planing to go to Mars which takes a rocket larger than anything they've conceived whilst spacex has been on this mission for 20+ years? Click bait title. But they 'could' be a Contender if they don't get bought out.

[@drdreadnaught423]

*US military kicks down door* “We’d like a word.”

[@johnmoon8505]

Why would they kick down their door if they have their own dedicated launchpad in cape Canaveral a NASA (government) site? 😑 Think and pay attention to what you're watching before you meme *memelord* 😐

[@blackumbrella6199]

2:25 I swear I thought he was indian.

[@Atipat12]

😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮

[@chris-cy5ed]

I wonder if he'll get bought out or end up going to work with SpaceX

[@1ndragunawan]

The founders were ex employees of Blue Origin and SpaceX.

[@iamdmc]

I mean he has a multimillion dollar company I don't see him working for anyone else but himself Also, a buy out only happens if the owners want it to happen. There must be a dozen or so shareholders, and the majority stake probably still rests with its founders

[@nick_0]

Capitalism breeds innovation 😎

[@g.f.martianshipyards9328]

Unless there monopolies or trusts, or if the innovation in question would hurt profits, regardless of how much good it might do.

[@muzdokgober9371]

It's not efficient

[@BOLTZtheCLOWN]

Sooo this guys the Real Elon Musk of the Engineering world ... lol

[@icashADDICT]

another scam

[@chrisspry8736]

Mar 22, 2023

[@icashADDICT]

@@chrisspry8736 just remember...."scam". Nothing more than funding a personal dream. The rate they print at is ridiculous, no point printing the body which could be done much faster the traditional way and print the more complex internal structure into it. They are approaching this the wrong way..... The way they do it is like trying to prove what 3D printers could accomplish rather than max efficiency.

[@Mr.BobsDog]

Elon 😂

[@chessdad182]

I like the CEO. He seems to have the right focus. Unlike a certain other CEO.

[@ponakklawq9863]

which CEO are you talking about?

[@MrFredericandre]

@@ponakklawq9863 Elaaaan Maaah

[@rajuaditya1914]

Well, the other ceo doesn't really have anything to prove. They are the most successful space company.

[@georgeb.3292]

What other CEO? The one sho made an EV company at the same time with an aerospace company and revolutionised both automotive and aerospace industries and leading them now? That guy lacks focus?

[@khel9505]

Seems like another ceo who wants copy the other ceo🤔

[@oneryanalexander]

3D printed and fully reusable. Beat that SpaceX.

[@chhewee]

what's the fascination with outerspace most of our world's ocean is unexplored. And Most of Antarctica. 👍 let's go there. 🙁 space is empty except for the moon and a few other barren rocks.

[@Mr_MikeMikeMike]

The great thing about having a population of 8 billion people means we can do both at the same time

[@iceman18211]

No reason we can't do all of the above. I hope to die on Mars.

[@chris-cy5ed]

Space has alot of minerals and things you havent read about obviously like NASA uses things from space to get back there for one!! 2: it uses half the stuff for your teeth from space ! It literally is hundreds of things thats not on earth trust me their digging up there

[@chris-cy5ed]

Read READ

[@SorminaESar]

Rocket Terran 2 means to complete Terran 1, right. Hope USA send Rocket Terran 2 to attack Russia Federation directly. Bravo USA and WSJ👍👏👏👏👏👏

[@PrograError]

Ain't a ICBM even if the idea is same...

[@rf8003]

"That is strong enough...?" Hmmmmmm....

[@davedaniel4824]

Wish him all the best! F Musk.