Relativity plans SSC expansion

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - NASA’s Stennis Space Center joined with Relativity Space on Oct. 18 as the company outlined plans for a major expansion of its rocket and engine test facilities at the south Mississippi site. Relativity Space plans to build comprehensive facilities in the Stennis Test Complex to test its Aeon R engines. The company envisions the completed project as one of the largest commercial test facilities in the nation. Relativity Space already is clearing ground for construction of several new facilities. Company plans call for construction of new engine test stands, office buildings, and a vehicle facility. The company already is housed in several other locations within the Stennis test complex. It also has existing agreements to test its engines and rocket components on various Stennis test stands. Relativity Space originally partnered with Stennis to test its Aeon 1 engine on the site’s E-3 Test Stand. The partnership quickly expanded in 2018 to grant Relativity Space exclusive use of the E-4 Test Complex at Stennis. The latest partnership agreement focuses on 153 acres located near the E-4 Test Complex and provides the company room to grow its operations for Terran R, its fully reusable, entirely 3D-printed launch vehicle. Relativity Space, based in Long Beach, Calif., has created a 3D-printed, expendable Terran 1 rocket scheduled for its maiden launch in upcoming months. The company also is developing a fully reusable, 3D-printed Terran R rocket. The Terran 1 rocket will be capable of carrying small satellite payloads. The Terran R rocket is being developed to launch payloads up to 44,000 pounds (20,000 kilograms) to low-Earth orbit. (Source: NASA, 10/18/22)