A fully reusable, 3D-printed rocket will be launching satellites to orbit three years from now, if all goes according to plans announced by California-based Relativity Space.

The Terran R two-stage rocket will be 216 ft tall by 16 ft wide, with the ability to loft more than 44,100 lb to low Earth orbit (LEO). This vehicle represents an advance in power and performance from the two-stage Terran 1, an expendable rocket that Relativity Space expects to start flying later in 2021. Nine different customers have already signed contracts to put payloads on Terran 1, which can deliver a maximum of 2,756 lb to LEO.

The Terran R will be powered by seven of the company's Aeon R 3D-printed rocket engines that each generate 302,000 lb of thrust, while the upper stage will carry just one of its 3D-printed Aeon Vac engines. This manufacturing strategy allows Relativity Space to build rockets with 100 times fewer parts than those of its competitors and churn out a completed vehicle in less than 60 days.

According to the company, the entire rocket, including the first stage, the second stage and the payload fairing, which protects satellites during launch, will be reusable. Terran R is expected to launch for the first time in 2024 from a pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, in Florida.

Artist's rendering of the fully reusable 3D-printed Terran R rocket. Source: Relativity Space