Relativity Space
Relativity Space is an aerospace manufacturer developing 3D-printed rockets using innovative additive manufacturing technology.
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About Relativity Space
Relativity Space is an aerospace manufacturer developing 3D-printed rockets using innovative additive manufacturing technology. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Long Beach, California, Relativity aims to disrupt rocket manufacturing by printing 95% of its vehicles using proprietary metal 3D printing systems. The company is developing Terran R, a fully reusable medium-lift rocket.
Relativity has raised over $1.3 billion in private funding, with investors including Tiger Global, Fidelity, and Baillie Gifford. The company employs over 1,000 people and operates the world's largest 3D printers at its Long Beach factory. Under CEO Tim Ellis (co-founder), Relativity pursues both technological innovation and commercial launch services.
History and Milestones
Tim Ellis and Jordan Noone founded Relativity Space in 2015 after meeting at Blue Origin and SpaceX respectively. The founders believed 3D printing could fundamentally transform rocket manufacturing, reducing part count, lead time, and costs.
Relativity developed Stargate, the world's largest metal 3D printer, capable of producing rocket structures that would traditionally require thousands of parts and months of assembly. The company built increasingly capable versions of this core technology.
Terran 1, Relativity's first rocket, launched in March 2023. While the mission did not reach orbit due to an upper stage issue, it demonstrated the viability of 3D-printed rocket structures and propulsion components. The company subsequently pivoted to focus on the larger Terran R.
Products and Services
Terran R is Relativity's primary vehicle in development, a fully reusable medium-lift rocket designed to compete with SpaceX's Falcon 9. The rocket will deliver approximately 23,500 kg to low Earth orbit and feature first-stage landing and reuse similar to Falcon 9's operational model.
The company offers launch services for commercial, civil, and defense customers. Relativity has secured contracts from NASA, the Department of Defense, and commercial customers for future launches.
Relativity's manufacturing technology platform has potential applications beyond its own rockets. The company's additive manufacturing capabilities could support other aerospace and defense production needs.
Technology and Capabilities
Stargate 3D printers use proprietary wire-arc additive manufacturing to produce large rocket structures from aluminum alloys. The technology dramatically reduces part count—Terran 1 contained fewer than 100 major parts compared to thousands in conventional rockets.
The manufacturing approach enables rapid iteration and customization, with the ability to update designs and production quickly. Relativity prints tank sections, engine components, and structural elements using automated systems with minimal human labor.
Aeon engines, developed in-house, power both Terran 1 and Terran R. These liquid oxygen/liquid natural gas engines are also heavily 3D printed, demonstrating the technology's applicability to demanding propulsion applications.
Business and Financial Overview
Relativity has raised over $1.3 billion in funding, with its most recent round valuing the company at $4.2 billion. The company has invested heavily in manufacturing infrastructure, including its Long Beach factory and launch facilities.
The company holds contracts with NASA, the U.S. Air Force, and commercial customers including OneWeb and Telesat. Terran R is targeted at constellation deployment and government launch services.
Path to commercialization requires successful Terran R development and demonstration of reusability. The company faces execution risk in transitioning from development to operational launch services.
Recent Developments
In 2024, Relativity focused development resources on Terran R, discontinuing the smaller Terran 1 program. This strategic decision concentrated effort on the reusable medium-lift vehicle with larger market opportunity.
Development of the Aeon R engine progressed with testing campaigns at NASA Stennis Space Center. Relativity also advanced manufacturing processes and expanded production capacity at Long Beach.
The company signed additional launch contracts while continuing to build customer pipeline for Terran R services. Relativity also explored applications of its manufacturing technology beyond rockets.
Market Position
Relativity competes in the medium-lift launch market, where SpaceX's Falcon 9 dominates. Success requires demonstrating competitive pricing, reliability, and reusability to attract customers from the incumbent.
The company's manufacturing technology represents genuine innovation, potentially enabling faster iteration and lower costs than traditional aerospace manufacturing. However, proving these advantages at scale remains ahead.
Competitive challenges include SpaceX's established market position, emerging competition from Rocket Lab's Neutron and other medium-lift vehicles, and the execution risk inherent in developing a new reusable rocket. Relativity's success depends on Terran R achieving operational status and demonstrating competitive economics.
Tim Ellis (CEO, Co-founder), Jordan Noone (Co-founder)
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Data Accuracy Notice: Information about Relativity Space is compiled from publicly available sources including company websites, press releases, regulatory filings, and industry reports. Data is reviewed periodically but may not reflect the most recent developments.