🔥 Just another day at Stennis. Stage 2 successfully completed its first integrated hotfire! The A2 test stand was originally built in the 60s to support Saturn V Upper Stage testing (S-II). It was later reconfigured to be a single engine test stand for Shuttle Main Engine testing and development. The last Saturn V Stage test occurred October 30, 1970 on A2. It has been 55 years, 11 months, and 17 days since A2 supported stage testing capability. As of this morning, it is now 0 days.

Our new book "Inploration: Art Exploring Space to Understand Earth" is available for pre-order! Get your copy here! @inploration #delmonicobooks #dap artbook.com/9781636812144.ht…

With all 13 Aeon R engines installed on the thrust structure and stage two heading towards hot fire, August was a big month for Terran R. 🔩 Build: All 13 Aeon R engines were installed onto the thrust structure. Stage one integration is advancing and both interstage barrels were stacked. Flight two barrels are complete and flight three production has begun. 🧪 Test: Stage two completed cryoproof and COPV proof testing and is now being readied for Aeon V engine installation ahead of hot fire. 🏗️ Launch: Flame diverter installation is underway at the pad, the engineering support building opened, and HIF outfitting continues.

Throughout July, Terran R continued advancing toward first flight, with the stage one structural qualification campaign complete and stage two testing kicking off at NASA Stennis. 🔩 Build: The stage one shipping assembly was fully released, with work across the stage one flight article progressing alongside flight two tank production and welding. 🧪 Test: Completed the stage one structural qualification campaign in Long Beach. Over at NASA Stennis, stage two completed cryoproof and COPV proof testing. 🏗️ Launch: At LC-16, the HIF was energized, the assembly room crane passed its first proof load test, and the transporter erector upper strongback was moved into the assembly room.

Stage 1: qualified 💪 The dedicated test article successfully completed structural qualification, undergoing: ✔️ 420 pressure cycles ✔️ 62 proof, stability, and ultimate loading cases ✔️ 4.3 million lbf of axial compression while pressurized This campaign validates that the stage 1 tank is ready to withstand the demanding loads of ground operations, launch, and flight. Onward!

Terran R continues moving closer to first flight, with major testing milestones underway and operations scaling across the program. 🏗️ Build: All vehicle structures and closeouts were completed on the stage 1 qualification article, transitioning the hardware from manufacturing to factory test. 🔥 Test: Stage 1 qualification testing began, stage 2 arrived safely at NASA Stennis, and acceptance testing was completed for all flight one Aeon R first stage engines. 🌴 Launch: At LC-16, water farm tanks were installed, LOX farm tanks activated, and infrastructure continued advancing toward operational readiness. 🔭 Advancing science: We announced the Interplanetary Sciences Program (ISP), expanding our work to advance interplanetary science.

Relativity Space to privately develop Mars orbiter mission spacenews.com/relativity-spa…

Antoni Gaudi died 100 years ago today. He was 73 and spent over 40 years working on La Sagrada Familia (completing 1/4th of entire basilica). Gaudi’s method for designing it was genius: he hung movable weights on strings and let gravity do the work of showing the proper angles and force vectors for his nature-inspired look. He then flipped the model upside down to see how to build the columns and arches. Also inspired by forests and sea life, the legendary architect once said, “there are no straight lines or sharp corners in nature.” In the final years of his life, Gaudi’s was solely focussed on the project. His diet was lettuce leafs dipped in milk. Lived inside the Basilica and barely slept on a simple cot. He died after getting hit by a tram while walking aroudn Barcelona. His clothes was so ratty — underwear held together with safety pins — that passerbys thought he was homeless. The city held a massive funeral for him with 30,000 people packing the streets. While 3/4 of La Sagrada Familia was undone, Gaudi left enough plans (models, drawings) for future generations. La Sagrada Familia was largely dormant for a few decades 1930s-1960s (Spanish Civil War, World War II, early Cold War). Some of Gaudi’s designs were so ahead his time that it would require the development of aeronautical design software to complete his vision. Gaudi once remarked that “my client” — referring to God — “is not in a hurry”. There is still work to be done but a major milestone was completed in February: workers installed a cross on top of La Sagrada Familia, making it the tallest church in the world (172.5 meters or 566 feet). It’s also the tallest structure in Barcelona. But Gaudi intentionally capped the height because “human creation should not pass God’s work.” The Montjuïc Hill in the southwestern part of Barcelona is ~570 feet. *** Video link: youtube.com/watch?v=JlL6ZHCh…

The November Terran R program update is out. Progress is building across design, build, test, and launch as hardware and infrastructure ramp forward. 🏭 On the floor, teams completed all circumferential welds on the first stage tank and wrapped acceptance testing on the second stage tank. 🖥️ Thrust structure HITL hardware integration is complete, enabling software, avionics, and partner teams to validate designs ahead of run-for-record testing. 🔥 At NASA Stennis, testing continues with both Aeon R and Aeon V engines. 🌴 At LC-16, the water tower tank is now placed atop the downcomer, with siding and structural work continuing across the HIF. ...and much more.

We’re expanding access to orbit with @SES_Satellites 🚀 We’re proud to announce new Terran R launches with @SES_Satellites, advancing global connectivity through next-generation communications satellites. ➡️Learn more about the partnership: bit.ly/43pOeWh

Terran R build is continuing to ramp up this fall. From avionic builds to expanding of our machine shop capabilities and more. 🔥In prop, teams completed assembly of the second Aeon R engine for first flight and reduced average cycle times across key engine components by 50%. 💻The avionics team is building the flight hub box, which will serve as Terran R’s central node for routing data and distributing power to critical systems. 🚀Welding of the first stage tank is progressing with 3 circumferential friction stir welds now complete.