Relativity Space :: Large-Scale Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing), Artificial Intelligence & Autonomous Robotics

Relativity Space is an American aerospace manufacturing and launch company founded in 2015 and headquartered in the Los Angeles area (primarily Long Beach, California). The company is revolutionizing space access by leveraging large-scale additive manufacturing (3D printing), artificial intelligence, and autonomous robotics to build rockets faster, cheaper, and more reliably than traditional methods. Relativity’s long-term goal is to make spaceflight routine and affordable, enabling scientific discovery, commercial opportunities, and future human exploration beyond Earth, including supporting a multiplanetary future.

The company’s flagship vehicle is Terran R, a fully reusable, medium-to-heavy-lift rocket designed for high-cadence launches. Terran R features extensive 3D-printed components and is engineered for rapid reusability, with significant payload capacity to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). It builds upon lessons from the earlier Terran 1, which became the world’s first 3D-printed rocket to reach space in 2023.

A cornerstone of Relativity’s approach is its software-defined manufacturing strategy. The company operates some of the world’s largest metal 3D printers, known as the Stargate series. These massive robotic printers use wire-arc additive manufacturing to produce large rocket structures (including engine chambers and vehicle tanks) with minimal tooling and waste. This is supported by fleets of autonomous robotic systems that handle welding, finishing, inspection, material transport, and assembly tasks with high precision and repeatability. The integration of robotics and AI allows Relativity to iterate designs rapidly, reduce part counts dramatically (often by 100x compared to traditional rockets), and compress manufacturing timelines significantly.

Relativity also operates Horizon, a high-autonomy innovation lab focused on advancing additive manufacturing for aerospace, defense, and other industries. The company maintains major facilities in California (manufacturing and headquarters), Mississippi, Florida (launch site development at Cape Canaveral), and other locations.