- Relativity Space signs a multi-year Launch Services Agreement with Intelsat for the Terran R.
- The agreement adds to Relativity’s growing Terran R launch contracts, now totaling $1.8 billion across nine customers.
October 11, 2023, LONG BEACH, Calif. & MCLEAN, Va. — Relativity Space, recognized as the leading 3D printed rocket company, has announced a significant multi-year, multi-launch Launch Services Agreement (LSA) with Intelsat, the operator of the world’s most extensive integrated space and terrestrial network. This collaboration will see Relativity launching Intelsat satellites on its Terran R vehicle, with launches anticipated to commence as early as 2026.
Terran R, described as a medium-to-heavy-lift, reusable launch vehicle, is designed to meet the increasing demand for satellite launches. It offers both governmental and commercial entities cost-effective access to various orbital regions, including LEO, MEO, GEO, and beyond. To date, Relativity has secured nine customers for the Terran R, with contracts amounting to over $1.8 billion.
Tim Ellis, Co-Founder and CEO of Relativity Space, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are honored to be working with Intelsat to launch future spacecraft into their industry-leading satellite fleet. Relativity is developing Terran R as a customer-focused reusable launch vehicle to solve this need. We look forward to planning, executing, and successfully launching these missions together with Intelsat.”
Jean-Luc Froeliger, Intelsat Senior Vice President of Space Systems, emphasized the company’s long-standing reputation in satellite launches, noting, “Relativity has developed an innovative design and production process for the Terran R, which will deliver benefits to Intelsat for years to come.”
Terran R’s development aims to cater to the rising demand for large constellation launch services. With its versatile payload fairing, Terran R can support a range of use cases, from launching single geosynchronous satellites to accommodating multiple customers per launch.
Manufactured at Relativity’s Long Beach headquarters, Terran R benefits from the company’s fourth-generation Stargate metal 3D printers. Testing phases are conducted at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, while launches for Intelsat will take place from Relativity’s Space Launch Complex 16 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
