Relativity Secures Funding to First Launch, Widens Fairing

Jeff Foust, SpaceNews, on Relativity landing $140 million in funding:

“That round will carry us past first flight of Terran 1,” said Jordan Noone, co-founder and chief technology officer of Relativity, in an interview. “This round is all the capital required to get to first flight, build out more of the Mississippi test site, Launch Complex 16 in Florida and expand our L.A. headquarters and manufacturing.”

Their first flight is now slated for February 2021, and will feature a 3-meter hammerhead fairing, which can be seen on their site.

Relativity’s focus on additive manufacturing is a double-edged sword. It’s one of their most unique assets which attracts attention and investor interest, but it’s also their biggest risk—technically and culturally.

Are they a company that provides launch services, and they get there by way of advanced additive manufacturing? Or are they a company that focuses on advanced additive manufacturing, and they happen to be selling launch services first?

I’m anxiously waiting to see the first fully-integrated stage produced by Stargate. And I’m even more anxious to see that fired at their test site.