Rocket company 3D printed Relativity Space The vertical test stand (A-2 complex) at the A-2 Complex within has been signed with an enhanced-use lease agreement. NASA’s historic Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi. According to the company, which successfully launched its 3D printed Terran 1 rocket earlier this year, the agreement marks the first time a commercial tenant has modernised an underutilised legacy test stand at NASA Stennis.
The expansion brings Relativity’s total footprint at NASA Stennis to nearly 300 acres, the largest commercial presence on the site says the company.
“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. “We appreciate the support from NASA and the state of Mississippi and look forward to continuing to build out our team and testing infrastructure here in the Gulf Coast. Terran R is a large-scale medium heavy lift launch vehicle.
“Exclusive access to these rare, national-asset facilities through partnership with NASA uniquely enables Relativity to develop a world-class launch vehicle. Together with our significant private capital commitments to reinvigorate these facilities, we are building innovative capabilities to solidify America’s leadership in space.”
Building on the legacy of the A-2 stand, Relativity’s new infrastructure will support advanced vertical first stage testing for its medium-to-heavy lift reusable 3D printed rocket, Terran R. With a new stand, Relativity says it will be able to uplevel its cadence of testing, increasing the speed of iterative learning cycles and shortening time to market.
Rick Gilbrech, Director of NASA’s Stennis Space Center said: “We applaud Relativity Space in announcing this expanded agreement. Since the company’s arrival on site in 2016, it has grown to become a valued member within the NASA Stennis Community. This increased footprint is a testament to Relativity’s continued progress in the commercial space arena. It also shows the value of NASA Stennis as well as our test complex for commercial space efforts. We look forward to an ongoing relationship with Relativity team members as they work to achieve their space goals.”
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The A-2 Test Stand was originally designed to handle maximum thrusts of 1.5 million pounds. However, it is only configured to withstand thrusts up to 650,000 pounds. With Relativity’s upgrades, the stand will be able to accommodate thrust of over 3.3 million pounds according to the company. Relativity says this will bring A-2 back to the forefront of America’s commercial space program.
Relativity has also developed the A-2 site. They have exclusive use leases for E-2 and E-4 with an option to extend them for another 10 years. There is a commercial agreement in place for the E-1 stand. A growing team of test operators are building new infrastructure for engine and stage testing at the R Complex, NASA Stennis.
NASA Stennis, established in 1960, is the largest US propulsion test facility. The A-2 test stand was built in 1966 to flight-certify and test the second stage Saturn V, the Apollo Program’s launch vehicle. The A-2 Test Stand was used to test engines for the Space Shuttle Program from 2009 until now.
“The A-2 test stand at Stennis Space Center has a long and storied history as part of the U.S. space program, and the agreement with Relativity Space will extend that record,” said Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. “I look forward to seeing how this lease with NASA will build on Mississippi’s reputation as being home to cutting edge rocket and engine development.”