This blog has followed other blogs in not taking Tim Ellis' Relativity Space seriously. Today such blogs must concede: Ellis hasn't absconded with investors' cash like Branson just did. Yesterday they submitted Terran 1 for launch.
Terran 1 remains the prototype, with the actual rocket coming late 2024. Scraping the edge of the Mars window. But hey: there's plenty of stuff to do in space that isn't Martian, like making fiber-optics.
Also we're learning that Ellis' roggets are methane... like SpaceX's Raptor 2 (and not the Merlin). Costs are cut by using 3D printing. Although: what's to stop a 3D printed Raptor? and what's to stop a Falcon 10 with a Raptor engine? SpaceX might move thataway anyway just because USG is frowning upon kerosene anymore.
I am happy to see some competition in this market but SpaceX seems like it can keep a step ahead even if Starship never flies.
THE BUMBLEBEE FLIES 3/23/23: First stage.
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