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Relativity Space

HardwareHeadquartered in Long Beach, California; additional offices in Cape Canaveral, FL; Center, MS; Kent, WA; and Washington, D.C.Founded 2015· One of 1733 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

Aerospace company developing 3D-printed rockets, pivoting from fully 3D-printed Terran 1 to larger Terran R medium-to-heavy lift vehicle with hybrid manufacturing approach for 2026 launch.

CEO / Founder
Zach Dunn
Team Size
1001-5000
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$1.9B
Latest Round
Series E
Key Investors
Tribe Capital, Tiger Global Management, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Baillie Gifford, K5 Global, BlackRock, Coatue, Soroban Capital, Third Point, ICONIQ Capital, Playground Global, Y Combinator, Andreessen Horowitz, Sway Ventures, Radical Ventures, Space Capital, Social Capital, Mark Cuban, Bond

Technology & Products

Key Products

Aeon 1 engine, Stargate 3D printer, Terran 1 rocket, Terran R rocket

Technological Advantage

Advanced additive manufacturing enables rapid prototyping, lower lead times, and cost-effective, scalable production of launch vehicles.

Patent position

Relativity Space filed 34 patent families in 2022–2024, up from 8 in 2019–2021, a 325% rise, while tracked AM filings in the same patent offices fell 34%. AMPulse analysis

Filing momentum
34 families filed 2022–2024, 8 in 2019–2021 (+325%); all tracked AM filings in the same offices -34%
Focus, 2019–2021 → 2022–2024
Equipment 63% → 70%
Filed in
US 62%EP 32%WO 6%
Named competitors, AM patent families
Blue Origin 5Rocket Lab 3

53 AM patent families in total. Recent years are still being published, so read a filing change against the same-office figure.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Rapid iteration and significant cost savings via large-scale 3D printing, enabling faster production and customization of rockets.

How They Differentiate

Relativity differentiates through its Stargate 3D printer (worlds largest metal printer) and vertically integrated manufacturing, though now using hybrid approach. Terran R designed for reusability with 13 Aeon R engines on first stage.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Commercial space companies, satellite operators, and government agencies requiring reliable and cost-effective launch services.

Industry Verticals

Aerospace, Space Technology

Competitors

SpaceX; Blue Origin; Rocket Lab

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Total funding: ~$1.3B. Valuation: ~$4.2B (2021). Retired Terran 1 after single 2023 test flight. Terran R first launch targeted late 2026. Expanded launch contract with SES. Facing financial challenges per Bloomberg reports.

Major Milestones

2015: Founded by Tim Ellis and Jordan Noone in Los Angeles, 2021: Raised $650M Series E at $4.2B valuation, 2023 Mar: Terran 1 first launch - reached space but did not achieve orbit, 2023 Apr: Retired Terran 1, pivoted fully to Terran R development, 2024: Reduced 3D printing percentage, adopted hybrid manufacturing, 2025 Mar: Major design and production milestones for Terran R achieved, 2026 (planned): Terran R first launch

Notable Customers

SES (expanded launch contract)", "OneWeb", "Iridium", "Telesat", "NASA", "U.S. Space Force

https://www.relativityspace.com

Recent coverage of Relativity Space

Official records

Filings, certifications, and programme counts AMPulse can show for this company.

  • [F] SBIR/STTR · 1 AM award · latest 2020
  • [F] Relativity Space: 3D Printing the Future · 2020 · USD 115,278

AM patents

AM-relevant patents linked to this company.

Patents
58
Granted
14
Families
53

Leading domains: process (57), equipment (41), material (37)

Filings by year: 2025: 6 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2

  1. PREDICTING PROCESS CONTROL PARAMETERS FOR FABRICATING AN OBJECT USING DEPOSITION20210191363 · US
  2. SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INCREASING DEPOSITION RATES USING MULTIPLE FEED WIRES AND DEPOSITION04681856 · EP
  3. APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING4789801 · EP
  4. Systems and Methods for Using Wire Printing Process Data to Predict Material Properties and Part Quality20240077849 · US
  5. ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF HYBRID STRUCTURES04703068 · EP

Funding rounds

  • Series E$650.0M2021-06Lead: Fidelity Investments
  • Series D$500.0M2020-11Lead: Fidelity Investments
  • Series C$140.0M2019-10Lead: Bond
  • Series B$10.0M2019-01Lead: Fidelity Investments
  • Series A$5.0M2017-01Lead: Sequoia Capital

Why this company matters

AMPulse analysis, not a company disclosure

Relativity Space was founded in 2015 to disrupt launch vehicle production by applying large-scale metal additive manufacturing to rocket construction. The company initially pursued a fully 3D-printed rocket, the Terran 1, which flew a single test mission in March 2023 and reached space but not orbit. Shortly after, Relativity retired Terran 1 and pivoted to the Terran R, a medium-to-heavy lift reusable vehicle that uses a hybrid manufacturing strategy rather than relying solely on printed parts.

The core technology is the Stargate 3D printer, described as the world's largest metal printer using directed energy deposition with arc (DED-Arc). Stargate enables rapid iteration and significant part count reduction compared to traditional aerospace manufacturing. Terran R will be powered by 13 Aeon R engines on the first stage, with the vehicle designed for reusability. The company has also reduced the percentage of 3D-printed content in Terran R, incorporating conventionally manufactured components where cost or performance advantages exist.

Relativity targets commercial satellite operators, government agencies, and the U.S. Space Force. Notable customers include SES, OneWeb, Iridium, Telesat, and NASA. The company has raised approximately $2.4 billion from investors including Tribe Capital, Tiger Global, Fidelity, Baillie Gifford, BlackRock, Coatue, and Andreessen Horowitz, reaching a $4.2 billion valuation in 2021. Bloomberg has reported financial challenges, and the company faces a competitive field including SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Rocket Lab.

The strategic question for Relativity is whether its hybrid manufacturing approach and the Terran R's 2026 launch target can deliver the cost and iteration advantages originally promised by full 3D printing. The company's ability to scale production, secure launch contracts, and achieve reusability will determine its position in the medium-to-heavy lift segment.