Relativity Space
American private aerospace company developing additively manufactured launch vehicles, rocket engines, and commercial orbital launch services.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Relativity Space is a privately held American aerospace manufacturing and launch-services company founded in 2015 by Tim Ellis and Jordan Noone. Based in Long Beach, California, the company was established around the idea that large-scale additive manufacturing could simplify rocket production, reduce tooling requirements, shorten factory cycles, and make launch vehicles easier to modify. Its early program concentrated on Terran 1, a small-lift, expendable rocket whose structures and propulsion hardware incorporated extensive 3D-printing techniques. Terran 1 became a prominent technology demonstrator, but it did not achieve orbit or enter commercial service. After its March 2023 test flight, Relativity retired the vehicle and redirected its resources toward Terran R, a substantially larger partially reusable launch system. The company’s current business is centered on Terran R, a methane-and-liquid-oxygen, two-stage rocket intended to serve commercial satellite operators and constellation customers. Relativity has described Terran R as a medium-to-heavy-lift vehicle with a reusable first stage, combining in-house engine development, digitally driven manufacturing, and conventional or externally supplied components where those are more practical. The company has announced a planned first launch no earlier than late 2026. The vehicle is designed around thirteen Aeon R engines on its first stage and an Aeon V engine on its second stage, with later versions intended to improve recovery and flight cadence. Relativity also develops rocket engines and manufacturing systems. Its Aeon 1 engine powered Terran 1 and used liquid oxygen and natural gas, while the newer Aeon R and Aeon V programs use liquid oxygen and methane for Terran R. Engine testing and qualification have taken place at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, where Relativity has become a major commercial tenant. The company also operates extensive manufacturing, integration, and structural-test capabilities in Long Beach. It has pursued launch infrastructure at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Launch Complex 16 and announced plans for a launch facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Relativity has raised substantial private capital, including a $500 million Series D round announced in 2020 and a further $650 million round announced in 2021. The company has also pre-sold launch capacity and announced agreements with customers including OneWeb, Intelsat, and SES. These commitments support a strategy focused on larger launch vehicles rather than the small-launch segment initially targeted by Terran 1. In March 2025, Eric Schmidt replaced Ellis as chief executive and took a controlling interest, according to the company’s reported corporate developments. Relativity’s long-term proposition remains the integration of reusable rockets, additive manufacturing, proprietary propulsion, and flexible production for commercial and government space customers.
History
Relativity Space was founded in 2015 by Tim Ellis and Jordan Noone to build orbital rockets with a much greater role for additive manufacturing than was customary in the launch industry. The founders initially pursued the small-lift Terran 1, intending to use 3D printing to reduce the number of parts, tooling, and production steps involved in rocket construction. The company’s approach included in-house development of rocket engines and large-format manufacturing systems, with testing centered in part at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. The company expanded its physical footprint during its early development. In 2018 it signed a long-term agreement to test engines at Stennis, later expanding its facilities there. In 2019 it won a competitive process to develop and operate Launch Complex 16 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Relativity announced a large Long Beach factory and headquarters in 2020 and subsequently took over a former Boeing C-17 production site for the manufacture of its larger launch vehicle. A second launch-site concept at Vandenberg Space Force Base was announced for missions to polar and sun-synchronous orbits. Private financing enabled the company to move from a small-launch concept toward a much larger vehicle. Relativity announced a $500 million Series D financing in November 2020 and a $650 million round in June 2021. During this period it also announced or marketed launch agreements involving customers such as Telesat, Mu Space, Spaceflight Industries, Momentus, Iridium, and Lockheed Martin. The company increasingly argued that market demand favored a larger, more capable and potentially reusable rocket. Terran 1 made its first flight on March 23, 2023, after two scrubbed launch attempts earlier that month. The uncrewed mission, named “Good Luck, Have Fun,” carried no payload. It passed through maximum aerodynamic pressure, an important early-flight test objective, but an anomaly during second-stage operation prevented orbital insertion. Relativity retired Terran 1 the following month rather than continue toward commercial service. The company then concentrated on Terran R, a two-stage, partially reusable vehicle intended for satellite constellations and commercial launch customers. Terran R retains additive manufacturing in selected structures and engine components but uses a more mixed manufacturing model, including outside suppliers for some hardware. Its first-stage recovery concept includes stage separation, an entry burn, aerodynamic guidance, and a landing burn for recovery on a downrange vessel. The company has announced multi-launch agreements with OneWeb and Intelsat and later expanded its relationship with SES. By 2025, Relativity described its Long Beach site as the central hub for Terran R design, integration, testing, and production. Propulsion development has continued alongside vehicle work. Aeon R underwent mission-duty-cycle testing in 2023 and 2024 and was reported qualified in 2025, while Aeon V remained in development. In 2025 the company also announced Horizon Manufacturing Technologies for additive-manufacturing applications beyond launch vehicles and created Dark Matter Lab for deep-tech prototyping. In March 2025, Eric Schmidt replaced Ellis as CEO and assumed a controlling interest. Relativity has stated that Terran R’s first launch is planned no earlier than late 2026, subject to completion of vehicle, engine, and launch-site qualification.
- 2026
Planned Terran R debut
[1]The company’s announced target for the first Terran R launch was no earlier than late 2026.
- 2025
Leadership transition
[1]Eric Schmidt replaced Tim Ellis as chief executive and took a controlling interest.
- 2023
Terran 1 maiden flight
[1]Terran 1 flew for the first time but failed to reach orbit after an upper-stage anomaly.
- 2023
Terran 1 retired
[1]Relativity ended the Terran 1 program and shifted its focus to Terran R.
- 2021
Terran R financing round
[1]The company announced a further $650 million funding round to support its larger partially reusable rocket.
- 2020
Series D financing announced
[1]Relativity announced a $500 million Series D financing round.
- 2019
Launch Complex 16 selected
[1]The company won a competitive process to develop and operate Launch Complex 16 at Cape Canaveral.
- 2018
Stennis testing agreement
[1]Relativity signed a long-term lease at NASA’s Stennis Space Center for engine testing and related development.
- 2015
Company founded
[1]Tim Ellis and Jordan Noone founded Relativity Space to develop rockets and manufacturing systems using additive manufacturing.
Products and positioning
A vertically integrated aerospace manufacturer using additive manufacturing, proprietary methane engines, and reusable launch-vehicle architecture to pursue flexible and lower-friction orbital launch operations.
Partially reusable orbital launch vehicle
Terran R
Terran R is a large two-stage launch vehicle under development for commercial orbital missions. Its first stage is designed for recovery and reuse, while its architecture combines additive manufacturing with conventionally manufactured and externally supplied components. The vehicle is intended to use thirteen methane-and-liquid-oxygen Aeon R engines on the first stage and an Aeon V engine on the second stage. Relativity has positioned it for constellation deployment and other commercial missions, with a first launch planned no earlier than 2026.
Expendable small-lift orbital launch vehicle · 2023
Terran 1
Terran 1 was Relativity’s first launch vehicle and served as a demonstration of the company’s extensive use of 3D printing in rocket production. It used nine Aeon 1 engines on its first stage and a vacuum-optimized Aeon 1 on its second stage. The vehicle flew once on March 23, 2023, reached maximum aerodynamic pressure, and then failed during upper-stage operation. Relativity retired the program after that flight.
Rocket engine
Aeon R
Aeon R is a methane-and-liquid-oxygen gas-generator-cycle engine developed for Terran R’s first stage. Thirteen engines are planned for the vehicle. Relativity reported mission-duty-cycle testing in 2023 and 2024, qualification in 2025, and continuing acceptance testing for flight hardware thereafter.
Upper-stage rocket engine
Aeon V
Aeon V is the vacuum-oriented upper-stage engine planned for Terran R. It uses liquid oxygen and methane and is derived from the company’s propulsion-development work for the larger launch system. Development testing was continuing in the supplied reference period.
Rocket engine
Aeon 1 and AeonVac
Aeon 1 was the liquid-oxygen and natural-gas engine developed for Terran 1, with a vacuum-optimized AeonVac variant for the second stage. Relativity manufactured the engine with a highly consolidated design and used 3D-printed alloy components. The company conducted extensive hot-fire testing at Stennis before the Terran 1 flight.
Marketing campaigns
- 2023Good Luck, Have Fun
United States
Relativity’s first Terran 1 flight was presented as an uncrewed technology demonstration and carried no payload. The mission successfully passed max-q but did not reach orbit.
Outcome. Partial technical success; vehicle failed to achieve orbit and the Terran 1 program was subsequently retired.
Brand decisions
2025
Appoint Eric Schmidt as chief executiveOtherBackground
Relativity continued scaling Terran R development and commercial commitments while preparing for a larger launch-vehicle program.
Action taken
Eric Schmidt replaced co-founder Tim Ellis as CEO and took a controlling interest in the company.
Aftermath
The company continued Terran R design, engine qualification, manufacturing, and launch-site preparation under new leadership.
2023
Retire Terran 1 and prioritize Terran RStrategyBackground
After Terran 1 failed to reach orbit on its maiden flight, Relativity reassessed its small-lift launch strategy and the commercial opportunity for a larger reusable vehicle.
Action taken
The company ended Terran 1 development and redirected engineering and manufacturing resources to Terran R.
Aftermath
Relativity’s launch-vehicle business became centered on Terran R and its associated Aeon propulsion systems.
Recent events
Relativity Space raised $650 million in Series E funding[3]
Reported:
Relativity Space raised a $650 million Series E, bringing its total funding to more than $1.2 billion. The round was led by Fidelity Management & Research Company, with other new and existing investors participating.
Relativity Space closes $140 million Series C funding round[4]
Reported:
Relativity Space closed a $140 million Series C funding round led by Bond and Tribe Capital, with participation from new and existing investors.
Sources5 sources
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