ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON: A California-based aerospace firm postponed the launch of the world’s first 3D-printed rocket after two aborted attempts on Saturday.
Relativity Space’s Terran 1 booster was expected to lift off at 4 pm ET from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, but with 45 seconds left till the end of countdown, ground controllers called off the take off amid an “automation” issue.
A little later, there was another attempt to launch the spacecraft from but it was also aborted due to pressure issues in the rocket’s second stage, the firm later tweeted.
“Based on initial data review, vehicle is healthy. More info to follow on cause of aborts today. Thanks for playing,” Relativity said in an update on Twitter.
Based on initial data review, vehicle is healthy. More info to follow on cause of aborts today. Thanks for playing. #GLHF pic.twitter.com/h6MmFKHUNl
— Relativity Space (@relativityspace) March 11, 2023
Next launch date yet to be announced
The space company has not yet announced a new launch date and time for the next attempt.
“The team went HARD today and we intend to do so during our next attempt. More to come on the new launch date,” the company said.
Earlier, the countdown was paused at one point during the three-hour launch window, which began at 1:00 pm (1800 GMT), when a private boat violated a danger zone.
Another launch scheduled last Wednesday was also postponed over last-minute propellant temperature issues.
—AFP/APP
