MOSCOW, Mar 23 There have been more unsuccessful launches like the one that happened with the Terran-1 rocket in the world recently due to the emergence of new companies that are cheaper to work out lungs missiles immediately during launches, and not during preliminary tests, said Ivan Moiseev, head of the Russian Space Policy Institute.
The first launch of the light class Terran-1 rocket of the American company Relativity Space on Thursday morning was unsuccessful: the rocket did not reach orbit due to abnormal operation of the second stage engine. The rocket is different in that a significant part of its structural elements and fuel tanks are made by 3D printing. Also, if successful, it would be the first methane rocket to reach orbit.
«Recently, the number of accidents in the world has increased precisely due to the fact that new players come, new enterprises that have less experience. On the other hand, they mainly make light rockets, it is easier and cheaper economically not to build special stands for long-term ground testing, but to work on the move, trying to launch,» Moiseev said.
He called the launch itself not critical, including due to the fact that the payload was not planned, there is a launch was exclusively test.
At the same time, he noted that the additive technologies used to create Terran-1 are very promising in space technology and make it possible to reduce the cost of the rocket. In addition, they will find their application in missions to other space bodies, including the Moon, Moiseev believes. The use of methane engines, according to him, is also a promising technology.
As reported, the main advantage of methane relative to kerosene, hydrazine and other fuels is that it is cleaner, that is, it leaves much less carbon deposits, which favorably affects reusable: easier to prepare the engine for the next flight.