On the 22nd of March Relativity Space Company launched Terran1 the first-ever wholly 3D-printed rocket. Relativity Space was founded in 2015 on the idea that pre-existing private spaceflight companies were not realising the potential of encompassing additive manufacturing (3D printing) into the industry. The company primarily specialises in the manufacture of launch vehicles and rocket engines. 

The Terran 1 lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Initially, the rocket performed well surviving the duration of the flight with maximum structural loads known as Max-Q. However, after the successful separation of the first and second stages, at around three minutes a malfunction of some sort occurred and the rocket failed to reach orbit. 

"We just completed a major step in proving to the world that 3D-printed rockets are structurally viable," said Relativity Space's Arwa Tizani.

Relativity Space co-founder Tim Ellis said before launch that getting through Max-Q was "the key inflection" hence the flight was a relative success for Relativity Space. 

Picture: Terran 1 right before launch. Source: spaceflightnow.com.