PVNet students go to Space
(Relativity Space)
PVNet Students Visit Relativity Space
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PVNet sincerely thanks Chris Heidelberg, Avionics Test Automation Software Engineer at Relativity Space, for providing an amazing student tour.
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After great anticipation, on November 22, 2024, PVNet students were provided the STEM experience of a lifetime with a tour of aerospace manufacturing company Relativity Space.
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3D PRINTED ROCKETS!
Founded in 2015 by Tim Ellis and Jordan Noone, the company has gained recognition for its innovative work in manufacturing cost-effective, high-performance, and reusable rockets almost entirely through 3D-printing. In early 2023, Relativity’s mission came to fruition with its launch of Terran 1, a rocket that was 85% 3D printed by mass and the largest 3D printed object to exist. This launch opened the world’s eyes to the possibilities of 3D printing in aerospace manufacturing and cemented the company’s position in the aerospace industry.
Launch of Terran 1
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Million Square Foot Building!
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PVNet students in front of the Relativity Space building
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The tour was arranged by a PVNet alumnus, Chris Heidelberg, who now works at the aerospace company as a software engineer. The tour itself was led by Chris; Ethan McCowan, Manufacturing Engineer; and Jamie Smith, Embedded Software Engineer.
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Avionics and Software Design
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After walking through the doors of the one-million-square-foot building, the students were shown the avionics lab, where they learned how Relativity Space engineers applied and tested electrical systems for Terran R. Here, stu dents discovered the sheer amount of electrical power required to design and test all the components which control the rocket and its slew of engines. Also, engineers explained how they design the embedded circuitry (aka ‘boxes/brains’) needed to operate Terran R.
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Engineering
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Students were then taken to engineering, where requirements and specifications are incorporated into designs. All of the designs are then passed on to the department which fabricates those parts. While in engineering, they were shown how they used CAD to design parts and how they present instructions and change requests that go forward to manufacturing.
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Gigantic Rocket
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During this part of the tour, PVNet interns were shown a gigantic eighteen-foot full-scale mockup of the Terran R stage 1 rocket. T. Everyone was dwarfed in comparison to the full-scale model. Nearby were the huge dome and awesome 3D printer which was used to print it.
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Relativity's Massive 3D Printers
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Engine Design
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The students were then shown the progression of rocket engine development, starting from the very first engine they developed to the engine they used to launch Terran 1. There was much discussion about the obvious and significant improvements made. The newest and most advanced version engine was not on display, as it was still being tested.
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Engine from Terran R
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Rocket Data
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While looking at the display of parts and engines, the conversation turned towards collecting sensor data. The massive volume of data created during testing, validation, and from flight, along with the challenges of collecting it in real-time were discussed. It was explained that the challenges of developing custom in-house software and on-going manual analysis are always being improved because they are key to understanding the recorded data.
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Questions and Answers
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The generous amount of time allotted to the students during this tour and all of the engineers’ patience with the combination of questions from the inquisitive students and detailed answers from the engineers provided the students with keen insight and new understanding.
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Paths to the Future!
At the conclusion of the tour, all the students left feeling exhilarated by their new understanding of how their interests in both STEM and other fields could be pursued within the space exploration industries.
We greatly thank Relativity Space for this opportunity and are grateful to Chris Heidelberg, PVNet alum, for setting up and coordinating the tour.
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Chris Heidelberg, Avionics Test Automation Software Engineer at Relativity Space (left), and Ted Vegvari, PVNet President (right)
PVNet students, Ted Vegvari, and Chris Heidelberg in front of the Relativity Space logo