- Relativity Space signs an enhanced use lease agreement for a vertical test stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, marking the first commercial modernization of an underutilized legacy test stand.
- The company plans to invest $267 million into Stennis and create hundreds of new jobs by 2027 to support the Terran R program.
September 19, 2023 – Bay St. Louis, Mississippi- Relativity Space, a leader in 3D printed rocket technology, has entered into an enhanced use lease agreement (EULA) for the vertical test stand at the A-2 complex within NASA’s historic Stennis Space Center. This marks the first time a commercial entity has revitalized an underutilized legacy test stand at the center.
The agreement expands Relativity’s presence at Stennis to nearly 300 acres, making it the largest commercial tenant on the site.
The A-2 Test Stand at Stennis was originally constructed in 1966 for the Apollo Program and later used for the Space Shuttle Program. It has been unused for nearly a decade. Relativity plans to invest $267 million into the site and create hundreds of new jobs in the region by 2027. The investment will support the development and launch of the company’s Terran R program.
“New history is being written at Stennis Space Center as we breathe life into the historic A-2 Test Stand with our Terran R program,” said Tim Ellis, Co-Founder and CEO of Relativity Space.
The new infrastructure will support advanced vertical first stage testing for Relativity’s medium-to-heavy lift reusable 3D printed rocket, Terran R. The company aims to increase the speed of iterative learning cycles and shorten time to market.
Dr. Rick Gilbrech, Director of NASA’s Stennis Space Center, praised the expansion, stating, “This increased footprint is a testament to Relativity’s continued progress in the commercial space arena.”
Relativity’s upgrades will enable the A-2 Test Stand to accommodate thrust of over 3.3 million pounds, revitalizing its role in America’s commercial space program. The company also holds ten-year exclusive-use leases on other stands at Stennis and is actively hiring in the region.
