A rocket launch made primarily from 3D printed parts was halted at the last minute due to a temperature issue.
California-based Relativity Space was attempting to launch the 33-meter rocket, called Terran, from a former rocket site at Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Approximately 85% of Terran is 3D printed parts at the company’s Long Beach, California facility, including the engines.
Relativity Space hopes to further increase that percentage in future releases.
When the attempt to launch Terran was made, the on-board computers stopped counting down with just over a minute remaining due to a temperature problem with the rocket’s upper stage.
Mission Control decided to address the issue and try again before the launch window closed, but ultimately had to delay.
It’s unclear when the company will try again.
If and when Terran hits the sky, it will bring only one memory: the first metal 3D print from the company’s printers.
Terran is the largest 3D printed object to attempt a launch, Relativity Space has said.
SpaceX’s Falcon rockets have been flying with 3D printed parts for years, but not in the proportion used by Relativity Space.
