Relativity Space
@relativityspace
Building reusable rockets to empower science, exploration, and innovation beyond our planet.
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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.
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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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