World’s first 3D-printed rocket fails to launch

A rocket made almost completely of 3D-printed parts came within a half-second of blasting off Saturday on its debut flight, but remained grounded after back-to-back launch aborts. The engines ignited, but abruptly shut down, leaving Relativity Space’s rocket, named Terran, standing on its pad. No cause was given for the problems.

The first launch attempt, on Wednesday, was aborted at the one-minute mark because of a bad valve.  Relativity Space said 85% of the rocket, including its engines, came out of its huge 3D printers at company headquarters in Long Beach, California. The company aims to put the souvenir, along with the second stage, into a low, short-lived orbit.