Relativity Space
@relativityspace
Building reusable rockets to empower science, exploration, and innovation beyond our planet.
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🔥 Just another day at Stennis. Stage 2 successfully completed its first integrated hotfire!
The A2 test stand was originally built in the 60s to support Saturn V Upper Stage testing (S-II). It was later reconfigured to be a single engine test stand for Shuttle Main Engine testing and development.
The last Saturn V Stage test occurred October 30, 1970 on A2. It has been 55 years, 11 months, and 17 days since A2 supported stage testing capability.
As of this morning, it is now 0 days.
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Building the infrastructure to launch Terran R. September brought several key milestones across LC-16's launch pad and ground systems.
✔️ The east lightning protection system tower reached its full height of 530 feet.
✔️ Structural steel on the east side of the launch table is complete.
✔️ Permanent 480-volt power infrastructure energized at the pad.
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September was a big month for test operations across our sites.
📍 NASA Stennis, MS
Stage 2 completed its first wet dress rehearsal! The team put the stage through flight-like propellant loading, COPV fills, engine chill operations, and a simulated stage 1 ascent timeline, building toward its first integrated hot fire.
📍 Long Beach, CA
All 13 Aeon R engines are installed on the thrust structure and are moving through integrated gimbal testing, validating their ability to pivot precisely to steer and stabilize the vehicle during flight.
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LC-16 is taking shape.
✔️ Flame diverter installation is underway, built to redirect the immense heat, exhaust, and acoustic energy generated at launch.
✔️ Launch table steel is going up alongside continued work on the LNG tank farm and lightning protection system, raising the first sections of the 531-foot towers.
✔️ Inside the HIF, outfitting continues as the transporter erector upper strongback takes shape.
✔️ The engineering support building is officially open, giving the teams who will operate Terran R launch campaigns a new home on-site.
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💫 Terran R has been selected for NASA’s Launch Services (NLS) II contract, making us eligible to compete to launch future @NASA science, planetary, and exploration missions. We’re excited to help unlock new frontiers of discovery beyond Earth.
Learn more:
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Throughout July, Terran R continued advancing toward first flight, with the stage one structural qualification campaign complete and stage two testing kicking off at NASA Stennis.
🔩 Build: The stage one shipping assembly was fully released, with work across the stage one flight article progressing alongside flight two tank production and welding.
🧪 Test: Completed the stage one structural qualification campaign in Long Beach. Over at NASA Stennis, stage two completed cryoproof and COPV proof testing.
🏗️ Launch: At LC-16, the HIF was energized, the assembly room crane passed its first proof load test, and the transporter erector upper strongback was moved into the assembly room.
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Engine integration has begun! The first Aeon R engines are now installed on Terran R’s thrust structure.
💪 The thrust structure will house 13 Aeon R engines, each producing 269,000 lbf of sea level thrust for a combined thrust of 3,497,000 lbf at liftoff.
🔥 Each engine has successfully completed acceptance testing before installation on the vehicle.
🌀 Custom ground equipment precisely positions each engine for installation, then will rotate the fully integrated thrust structure into position for mate with stage 1.
One step closer to a fully integrated stage 1!
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Stage 2 testing is officially underway at NASA Stennis 🚀
The campaign kicked off with successful cryoproof, loading the stage with cryogenic fluids and pressurizing it beyond expected flight loads to validate its structural integrity, followed by COPV manifold proof testing to verify the high-pressure system that will pressurize propellants during flight.
These tests also marked the activation of A2, bringing together the infrastructure, flight hardware, ground and vehicle software, and the integrated team of test, launch, and vehicle engineers.
Next up: hot fire capable assembly work, then back to the stand ahead of stage hot fire testing. 🔥
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Stage 1: qualified 💪
The dedicated test article successfully completed structural qualification, undergoing:
✔️ 420 pressure cycles
✔️ 62 proof, stability, and ultimate loading cases
✔️ 4.3 million lbf of axial compression while pressurized
This campaign validates that the stage 1 tank is ready to withstand the demanding loads of ground operations, launch, and flight. Onward!
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LC-16 continues advancing toward operational readiness as teams bring critical launch infrastructure and ground systems online.
✓ 60,000-gallon tanks installed at the water farm
✓ Tanks activated at the liquid oxygen (LOX) farm
✓ Crane installation underway at the horizontal integration facility (HIF)
✓ Lower portions of both lightning protection systems (LPS) completed
✓ Launch table construction continues, with concrete work progressing on the breezeway and approach road
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🤝 We’re proud to have been selected by @USSF_SSC for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 program.
This contract award reflects the progress of the Terran R program, and the hard work still ahead. We remain focused on executing every step required to deliver high cadence, reliable access to space for national security, commercial, and science missions.
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