Makhnos_Tachanka t1_j9moxog wrote on February 23, 2023 at 1:53 AM

Reply to comment by Bewaretheicespiders in Relativity Space on Twitter: You’ve asked, “Wen Launch?” and to that, we say...👇 Catch us live at Launch Complex 16 in Cape Canaveral, FL on March 8, 2023 to watch the world’s first 3D printed rocket fly. 🚀 #GLHF by allforspace

I'm sure it'll have plenty of impact, just as falcon 1 did, as a technology demonstrator. Really, terran 1 is a demonstration of their ability to print the rocket, stick all the avionics together with their engines, and get to orbit. For them to have any chance of securing the funding for terran r, which actually does take advantage of the 3d printing process, they kinda have to start small. And ultimately, what they're really building here is the ability to build rockets on the moon and mars, which is a big deal in and of itself. Same goes for spinlaunch, for that matter. They're both building launch vehicles with technologies that don't make that much sense on earth, but do make a ton of sense once you get off it.

Bewaretheicespiders t1_j9ncf1c wrote on February 23, 2023 at 5:02 AM

I dont see the economics of building rockets on moon and mars until they have a complete industrial base and then, 3D printing is unlikely matter. In fact for a long time its likely there will be a surplus of rockets on Mars. Since (almost) everything will have to be imported, but little exported.