Tag: Relativity Space
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Rocket Report: Lightning strikes in China; Starship launch on deck
Welcome to Edition 9.04 of the Rocket Report! We’ve had to wait an extra week for SpaceX to get its 13th Starship test flight off the ground. A last-second abort on July 16 led engineers to roll the booster back to its hangar in South Texas to swap out engines. Starship is now back on…
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SpaceX Alumni Have Founded More Than 1,300 Companies, Data Shows
SpaceX’s influence on the space industry extends well beyond its launch vehicles and spacecraft, with new data indicating the company has become a major source of entrepreneurial talent across multiple technology sectors. According to data compiled by Crustdata from publicly available sources and shared with Payload, approximately 1,330 former SpaceX employees have gone on to…
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Terran R second stage heads to Stennis as Relativity advances toward 2026 debut
Terran R, the heavy-lift vehicle currently being developed by Relativity Space, is reaching significant milestones ahead of a potential debut at the end of 2026. Integration of essential subsystems for the rocket’s second stage was recently finalized ahead of its transfer to NASA’s Stennis Space Center for testing. Additionally, structural work on the qualification article…
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Relativity completes Terran R thrust section, continues testing ahead of first launch
While SpaceX’s Falcon family continues to demonstrate reliable reuse of its first stages and fairings, other launch providers are actively developing competitors. One such rocket in work is Relativity Space’s Terran R, and the company recently showed good progress in working toward the vehicle’s first flight, which is now scheduled for late next year. The…
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SpaceX, Blue Origin, Stoke, and others make major progress on Cape launch facilities
The two spaceport launch facilities in the Cape Canaveral area — NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and the U.S. Space Force’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) — are on the verge of even bigger changes than have been seen in the last few years. In a recent flyover of the Cape, NSF obtained new…
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Relativity Space accelerates production and testing of first Terran R
In a series of recent updates from Relativity Space, the company highlighted progress on its upcoming Terran R launch vehicle and supporting infrastructure for the rocket’s first flight, scheduled for 2026. The company is currently concentrating on three key areas: Terran R launch infrastructure, Aeon R engine testing, and the production of Terran R. Block…
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Eric Schmidt apparently bought Relativity Space to put data centers in orbit
In the nearly two months since former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt acquired Relativity Space, the billionaire has not said much publicly about his plans for the launch company. However, his intentions for Relativity now appear to be increasingly clear: He wants to have the capability to launch a significant amount of computing infrastructure into…
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To avoid the Panama Canal, Relativity Space may move some operations to Texas
As he consolidates control over Relativity Space, new owner and chief executive Eric Schmidt is planning significant changes at the launch company, including a likely move to the Lone Star State. Schmidt’s recent acquisition of the California-based company, which has largely evolved away from its 3D-printing origins to becoming a more conventional rocket developer, has…
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Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is the new leader of Relativity Space
Another Silicon Valley investor is getting into the rocket business. Former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt has taken a controlling interest in the Long Beach, California-based Relativity Space. The New York Times first reported the change becoming official, after Schmidt told employees in an all-hands meeting on Monday. Schmidt’s involvement with Relativity has been quietly…
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Relativity Space makes significant progress on Terran R; flight hardware in production
Relativity Space has announced significant progress with its Terran R reusable launch vehicle. In a newly released video, the company says it is set to have the vehicle’s primary structure completed this year, with a full vehicle assembled for launch in 2026. Terran R is also anticipating reuse early in the program, with the first…