NASA has selected Relativity Space to place CubeSats into low Earth orbit as part of its Venture Class Launch Services Demonstration 2 (VCLS Demo 2) contract. This marks the second publicly announced U.S. Government launch contract for Relativity for launch services. The launch will take place by June 30, 2022 from Relativity’s orbital launch site at Cape Canaveral LC-16 under this firm, fixed price contract. Under this award, Relativity will demonstrate its unique capabilities and sector-leading momentum by launching Terran 1, the first entirely 3D printed rocket.
“NASA’s efforts to expand launch options are vital for the future growth of space access. We appreciate NASA’s selection of our 3D printing approach for our launch vehicle, Terran 1,” said Tim Ellis, CEO and co-founder, Relativity Space.
Relativity is disrupting 60 years of aerospace, building an entirely new value chain to integrate 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and autonomous robotics. This factory of the future is a vertically integrated technology platform that enables Relativity to build and launch rockets in less than 60 days, with 100x fewer parts and a radically simplified supply chain. The company’s software-defined approach creates significantly higher reliability by introducing automation and reducing risk at every level of design, test and build. Relativity’s factory, its Terran 1 launch vehicle and Aeon 1 engine are completely designed, built, funded and operated in the United States.
Relativity continues to grow its customer manifest and public-private partnerships. This agreement marks the eighth announced launch customer for Relativity and the company’s second publicly announced government contract, following Relativity’s award as the launch partner for Lockheed Martin’s NASA Tipping Point Mission. In November of this year, the company announced its $500M Series D financing, accelerating its commercialization, production scaling and long-term development. This fundraising milestone followed significant technical, commercial, infrastructure and team momentum as Relativity continues to pioneer an inevitable shift toward software-defined manufacturing in aerospace and beyond.
About Relativity
Relativity is building humanity’s multiplanetary future. We invented a new approach to design, build, and fly our own rockets, starting with Terran 1 – the world’s first entirely 3D printed rocket.
As a vertically integrated technology platform, Relativity is at the forefront of an inevitable shift toward software-defined manufacturing. By fusing 3D printing, artificial intelligence and autonomous robotics, we are pioneering the factory of the future. Disrupting 60 years of aerospace, Relativity offers a radically simplified supply chain, building a rocket with 100x fewer parts in less than 60 days.
We believe in a future where interplanetary life fundamentally expands the possibilities for human experience. Our long-term vision is to upgrade humanity’s industrial base on Earth and on Mars.
Relativity Space is backed by leading investors including Baillie Gifford, BOND, Fidelity, General Catalyst, ICONIQ Capital, K5 Global, Mark Cuban, Playground Global, Social Capital, Tiger Global, Tribe Capital, Y Combinator, and 3L. For more information, please visit https://www.relativityspace.com/ and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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