NASA Space Center Mississippi: Relativity's New Home for World-Class Launch Vehicle Development

Relativity Space has secured exclusive access to the rare and national-asset facilities at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi through a partnership with the space agency. This unique collaboration enables the company to develop its world-class launch vehicle, Terran R, on a substantial scale.

The medium-heavy lift reusable launch vehicle is a significant undertaking, and Relativity appreciates the support from NASA and the state of Mississippi. The company plans to invest $267 million in the Stennis Space Center by 2027, creating hundreds of new jobs in the region to support the Terran R program development and launch ramp rate.

Relativity has breathed new life into the historic A-2 Test Stand, a facility that was briefly used for the Constellation Program before its cancellation. The stand previously served as an engine testing site for the Space Shuttle Program until 2009. Originally constructed in 1966 to test and flight-certify the second stage of the Saturn V launch vehicle for the Apollo Program, the A-2 Test Stand has sat unused for nearly a decade.

With this expansion, Relativity's total footprint at NASA Stennis now spans nearly 300 acres, making it the largest commercial presence on the site. This agreement marks the first time a commercial tenant has modernized an underutilized legacy test stand at NASA Stennis, highlighting the strength of the public-private partnership between the two entities.

Established in the 1960s, NASA Stennis is the nation's largest and most prestigious propulsion test center. Relativity Space's enhanced use lease agreement (EULA) on the vertical test stand at the A-2 complex within NASA's historic Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi, signifies a new era of collaboration between public and private entities.

Through this partnership, Relativity is spurring rejuvenation and bringing state-of-the-art testing back to the stand. With its presence at NASA Stennis, the company continues to build out its team and testing infrastructure on the Gulf Coast, ensuring a bright future for launch vehicle development in Mississippi.

Nasa space center mississippi