Relativity Space has an attractive approach to space travel:
Relativity’s goal is to disrupt the entire process of manufacturing rockets. “For the last 60 years, the way rockets have been built hasn’t really changed,” says Ellis. Instead of relying on the traditional, complicated assembly line of machines and people sculpting and piecing together parts of a vehicle, Relativity wants to make building a rocket almost entirely automated. The trick? Using giant 3D printers that can create all of the parts needed to build a rocket — from the engines to the propellant tanks and structure.
At the company’s Los Angeles headquarters, Relativity has the largest metal 3D printer by volume, a machine that’s capable of creating parts that are up to 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide. It’s called Stargate, another nod to Starcraft, and the team designed this printer from scratch, which means they can scale it up if needed. Ellis says that by relying on printers like this for manufacturing, the team will be able to produce about 95 percent of the rocket through 3D-printed automation. The last 5 percent still requires human labor. Most of that human interaction will be centered on testing, shipping, and very small amounts of manual assembly. [The Verge]
The article speaks of the speed and reduction in price of assembly, but, if the printers are up to snuff, this should also reduce mistakes that can take down a rocket, a device operating in a very demanding environment. They’ve already secured a launch pad at Cape Canaveral; once they can successfully launch, they want to go beyond SpaceX – they want to go to Mars, and then find a way to takeoff from there.
It’s just like a pulp SF novel from the 1950s. And very cool.
(h/t CT)
