I have seen people 3D print a house, a car and many other things but a company has decided to bring 3D printing into the Space industry by 3D printing rockets. Located in Los Angeles, Relativity Space has been constructing rockets with 3D printers, unlike other space companies, only 1% of a rocket is made from 3D but the company will be making over 90% of the rocket except from parts that requires electrical inputs.
The Space industry has been trending even in the midst of the pandemic as companies like SpaceX launched the Dragon Space ship to the International Space Station (ISS). Also, SpaceX have been able to boast about reusable rockets and space ships and this have given them a space at the fore front. Do not also forget that one of SpaceX plan is to launch to Mars which has been supported by a lot of country and also a lot of space agency including NASA.
The Mars Journey is what motivated the founders Jordan Noone, Tim Ellis to create Reality Space so as to create the first 3D built rocket as well as build other things like 3D space water tank and so on. Interestingly, this became more interesting during the lockdown as the company didn’t shut down its office as most workers started working from home except for a person who has to feed the 3D machine.
The company which was started in 2015, has been able to raise $185 million from venture capitalists, and investors Jared Leto and Mark Cuban. If this company is able to print a 3D rocket, then it will be a major breakthrough in the rocket world and space industry.
A lot of people have doubted if a 3D rocket will be able to fly? The team is working really hard to get it set. Unlike in other space companies where it takes about 2 years to complete their rockets, it take Relativity Space only few months to complete. Furthermore, it would be important in creating equipment and rockets for space exploration and Mars journey and will be a grand break for mass adoption of 3D machine
Reference
https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/03/relativity-space-has-big-dreams-is-the-company-for-real/
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/12/relativity-space-verifies-3d-printing-works-to-build-its-rocket.html