Relativity,
the world’s first autonomous rocket factory and launch services leader
for satellite constellations, today announced a partnership with mu
Space, the innovative Thai satellite and space technology company, to
launch a satellite to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) on Relativity’s Terran 1
rocket, the world’s first and only 3D printed rocket.
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mu Space CEO & Founder James Yenbamroong and Relativity Space CEO & Founder Tim Ellis stand in front of Relativity’s Stargate, the world’s largest metal 3D printer. (Photo: Business Wire)
Relativity’s groundbreaking, patented 3D printing technology platform
together with Terran 1’s unique and flexible architecture provides mu
Space a faster and more reliable launch at a lower total mission cost
than any other launch services company in the world. With this launch
partnership, two of the most visionary and innovative aerospace startups
are sharing expertise, resources, and capabilities to transform the
satellite launch and services industry across the U.S. and Asia-Pacific
regions.
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, disrupting 60 years of global aerospace manufacturing. The
company expects to build its Terran 1 rocket from raw material to
launch-ready in less than 60 days. As an innovator in the Asia-Pacific
and international arenas, mu Space is developing both Low Earth Orbit
(LEO) and Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite and space
technologies that will accelerate the adoption of Internet of Things
(IoT) devices in smart cities, and encourage new space investments in
the Asia-Pacific region. mu Space’s LEO satellite will be a primary,
dedicated payload on Relativity’s Terran 1 rocket, launching in 2022.
This partnership also progresses a long-term opportunity and shared
vision toward building the future of humanity in space. Relativity plans
to 3D print the first rocket on Mars and build an interplanetary society
to expand the human experience. mu Space has a goal of developing space
technologies to ensure safer lunar missions and to enable human
settlement on the moon within the next 10 years.
“mu Space is accelerating space technology development in Asia, and we
consider the moon as the next explorable body in space beyond Earth,”
said James Yenbamroong, CEO and founder of mu Space. “Relativity has the
vision, team, and technology to deliver exceptional advantages in
launching mu Space’s payloads, and supporting our goal of creating an
interplanetary society in the future.”
“We’re excited to partner with mu Space, a disruptive innovator in the
Asia-Pacific region, to launch their satellite and space technologies
with our 3D printed Terran 1 rocket,” said Tim Ellis, CEO and cofounder
of Relativity. “We look forward to collaborating to strengthen the U.S.
and Asia-Pacific space economy, and to advancing the future of humanity
in space together with James and the entire mu Space team.”
Earlier this month, Relativity announced a multi-launch contract with
Telesat, the renowned satellite operator, to support Telesat’s LEO
constellation. This was the first time Telesat, or any major global
satellite operator, had selected a fully venture-backed aerospace
startup for launch services. This partnership with mu Space further
establishes Relativity’s emerging leadership in the global satellite
launch services industry. The company is on track to conduct its first
orbital test launch at the end of 2020, and continues to grow a customer
manifest of leading global satellite operators, commercial companies,
and government payloads.
Relativity recently 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, adding to its portfolio of major government partnerships
including a 20-year exclusive-use Commercial Space Launch Act (CSLA)
agreement at the NASA Stennis Space Center E4 test complex, and
membership on the National Space Council advising the U.S. White House.
The company is expanding its infrastructure this year with a fourfold
expansion to over 350,000 square feet of operations, production,
testing, and launch facilities, including securing a polar orbit capable
launch site. Relativity’s team has grown 6x in the past year, from 14 to
83 employees.
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/.
About mu Space
Founded in Thailand in 2017, mu Space develops satellite communication
and space technologies to accelerate the adoption of Internet of Things
(IoT) devices in smart cities. It plans to launch its own satellite in
2021, and to lead space technology development and encourage new space
investments in Asia-Pacific.
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