Relativity Space win NASA multi-planetary exploration contract

Relativity Space have just received $3 million from NASA to launch small lightweight satellites into orbit with its fully 3D printed Terran 1 rocket. NASA’s Launch Service Program (LSP) issued the Venture Class Launch Services Demonstration 2 (VCLS Demo 2) contract to Relativity as part of an endeavour to establish uncrewed research missions in space. Missions such as these are increasingly critical to multi-planetary research, technology and exploration. Relativity’s Terran 1 is scheduled to launch from the orbital site at Cape Canaveral LC-16 by June 30th 2022, taking with it various small, lightweight satellites including CubeSats, SmallSats, microsats, and nanosats, to be placed Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

This mission will make history, launching the first satellite into orbit using an entirely 3D printed rocket. In fact, the Terran 1, is the world’s first entirely 3D printed rocket. Relativity Space have been developing the Terran 1 since 2015, using their in-house Stargate 3D printers, currently taking up residence in the company’s new Stargate factory. Combining intelligent robotics, software and data-driven 3D technology, as well as AI driven-controls and the world’s largest metal 3D printers, the Stargate factory is the first ever aerospace platform to automate rocket manufacturing.