Press release

Relativity to Build New Autonomous Rocket Factory and Expand Testing Facilities at NASA Stennis Space Center in Mississippi

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Relativity, the world’s first autonomous rocket factory and launch
services leader, today announced that it has secured an agreement with
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and an
incentive package from the Mississippi Development Authority to expand
facilities and infrastructure at NASA’s historic Stennis Space Center in
Hancock County, Mississippi.

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Rendering of Relativity's autonomous rocket factory at NASA Stennis Space Center in Mississippi (Gra ...

Rendering of Relativity’s autonomous rocket factory at NASA Stennis Space Center in Mississippi (Graphic: Business Wire)

Through this agreement, Relativity will leverage valuable existing NASA
infrastructure and capital investment incentives from the Mississippi
Development Authority to build and integrate a pioneering robotic 3D
printing rocket factory and an expanded testing facility for autonomous
production of Relativity’s Terran 1 rocket launch vehicles. The
agreement with NASA includes exclusive use of 220,000 square feet within
building 9101 at Stennis Space Center for a 9-year lease. The facility
includes an 80-foot high bay, multiple bridge cranes, and extensive
industrial infrastructure. The agreement also includes an option to
extend the lease for an additional 10 years. Relativity’s partnership
with the Mississippi Development Authority is supported by a significant
cost reimbursement and tax incentive package for Relativity’s employment
and capital investments for advanced aerospace manufacturing and
technology development in the State of Mississippi.

Disrupting 60 years of global aerospace manufacturing, Relativity is
developing the first and only aerospace platform to integrate machine
learning, software, and robotics with metal 3D printing technology to
build and launch rockets in days instead of years. Traditional aerospace
manufacturing relies on fixed tooling, a complex supply chain, and
extensive human labor. Relativity’s groundbreaking autonomous rocket
platform is highly reconfigurable, with a radically simplified supply
chain and no fixed tooling, reducing part count 100x.

On path to first orbital launch in 2020, Relativity will be building out
first stage assembly, engine integration and testing, and a full 3D
printing and robotics-enabled production line at the site. The
technologies developed through Relativity’s Stennis Factory site are the
first step toward the company’s long term vision of 3D printing the
first rocket made in Mars and expanding the human experience in space.
Through the factory build-out and expansion, the company will create a
total of 200 jobs and invest $59 million in the state of Mississippi.

This partnership between Relativity, NASA and the Mississippi
Development Authority advances innovation, economic development, and job
growth in the Gulf Coast, and progresses Relativity’s leadership in
American aerospace development. Relativity will invest in regional
workforce development programs, university and education outreach, and
community engagement initiatives. The infrastructure and resource
incentives will enable the company to accelerate development and scaling
of its technology and shorten lead times to launch.

“We are excited to partner with NASA and the Mississippi Development
Authority to bring our patented 3D printing rocket platform to Hancock
County,” said Jordan Noone, cofounder and CTO of Relativity. “We believe
this groundbreaking technology is the future of aerospace manufacturing,
and we look forward to bringing this innovation to the Gulf Coast.”

“This partnership will foster innovation, investment, and growth in
Mississippi,” added Tobias Duschl, VP of Operations at Relativity. “The
integration of our 3D printing rocket production and testing facilities
at one site will also enable Relativity to offer greater flexibility to
commercial and government entities needing faster, more frequent, and
lower cost access to space.”

“This agreement demonstrates again NASA’s commitment to work with our
industry partners to expand commercial access to low-Earth orbit. This
helps NASA maintain focus on the ambitious Artemis program that will
land the first female and the next male on the south pole of the moon by
2024. Relativity is a valuable member of the Stennis federal city and we
look forward to building on our already successful partnership. This is
a significant expansion of their presence at Stennis and we appreciate
their confidence in making south Mississippi an integral part of their
future,” said Dr. Rick Gilbrech, Director, Stennis Space Center.

“The Mississippi Gulf Coast has a strong aerospace presence, and
Relativity’s expansion at Stennis further positions our state as a
leader in this prominent sector,” Governor Phil Bryant said. “The
important work that will be done for Relativity by our skilled workforce
will play a crucial role in developing new methods to connect to outer
space and other planets.”

Relativity is accelerating growth of a customer manifest including
leading global satellite operators, commercial companies, and government
payloads. Recently, the company announced customer agreements with
Telesat, the renowned global satellite operator, to support their LEO
constellation; mu Space, the innovative Thai satellite and space
technology company, to launch their first LEO satellite; and
Spaceflight, the leading satellite rideshare and mission management
provider, to launch Spaceflight’s dedicated smallsat rideshares.
Relativity is on track to conduct its first orbital test launch at the
end of 2020 and enter commercial service in 2021.

With this expansion at Stennis, Relativity is increasing infrastructure
fourfold to over 280,000 square feet of operations, production, testing,
and launch facilities and is on track to reach over 350,000 square feet
of space in 2019. In the past year, the company increased team size over
6x from 14 to 90 employees. Relativity became the first venture-backed
company to secure a launch site Right of Entry at Cape Canaveral Launch
Complex-16 from the U.S. Air Force, and has a 20-year exclusive-use
Commercial Space Launch Act (CSLA) agreement at the NASA Stennis Space
Center E4 test complex, as well as membership on the National Space
Council advising the U.S. White House. Relativity is also securing a
polar and Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO) capable launch site this year.

About Relativity

Relativity
is the first autonomous rocket factory and launch services leader for
satellite constellations. The company’s vision is to build the future of
humanity in space — starting with rockets. Disrupting 60 years of
aerospace technology, Relativity’s platform vertically integrates
intelligent robotics and 3D autonomous manufacturing technology to build
the world’s first entirely 3D printed rocket, Terran 1. Terran 1 has
100x lower part count than traditional rockets, a radically simple
supply chain, and will be built from raw material to flight in less than
60 days with unparalleled iteration speed. Relativity deploys and
resupplies satellite constellations with industry-defining lead time,
flexibility, and cost, better connecting and securing our planet.

Relativity is backed by leading investors including Playground Global, Y
Combinator, Social Capital, Phillip Spector formerly of Intelsat, and
Mark Cuban. For more information, please visit https://www.relativityspace.com/.