Relativity Space, startup that aims to 3D print 90-95% of rocket’s components, signs major deal with NASA to test rocket engines

Briefing

Relativity Space, startup that aims to 3D print 90-95% of rocket's components, signs major deal with NASA to test rocket engines

April 4, 2018

Briefing

  • NASA Deal – Startup Relativity Space signed 20-year partnership with NASA's Stennis Space Center, valued at $30 million, to develop and test engines at NASA’s 25-acre E4 Test Complex in Southern Mississippi, with goal of building 36 rockets per year
  • 3D Printed Parts – Company plans to 3D print 90-95% of rocket engines and boosters, reducing number of parts of orbital rocket from 100,000 to fewer than 1,000
  • Testing Rocket Engine – Testing Aeon 1 rocket engine with vacuum thrust of 19,500 pounds, less than one-tenth exhausted by Merlin 1D engine used in SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, and four times more powerful than small Rutherford engines used in Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket
  • Developing First Rocket – Will integrate nine Aeon 1 rocket engines in first stage of first Terrran rocket, which will deliver 1,250 kilograms of payload to low-earth orbit, with per launch cost estimated at $10 million
  • Rocket Launch Timeline – Test flight for Terran rocket scheduled for late 2020, with commercial launches starting in 2021

Accelerator

Market Disruption

Organization

Relativity Space

Source

Original Publication Date

March 22, 2018

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