Who is Relativity Space?
Relativity Space isn't your typical aerospace giant. Founded in 2015, the California-based company has a radical idea: to 3D-print almost an entire rocket. While other companies, including SpaceX, use 3D-printed parts, Relativity's goal is to manufacture
over 95% of its rocket's mass, including engines and fuselage, using its massive proprietary printers, named Stargate. This approach, they argue, dramatically simplifies the supply chain, reduces the part count by a factor of 100, and allows them to build a rocket from raw materials to launch-ready in as little as 60 days. The company's first orbital rocket, Terran 1, was a pathfinder vehicle. The NASA mission, however, will rely on its next-generation, fully reusable rocket: Terran R. This vehicle is designed to carry heavy payloads to orbit, positioning Relativity as a direct competitor to established players like United Launch Alliance and even SpaceX's Falcon 9.
The Mission: A Cosmic Relay Race
The contract is for a critical piece of NASA's Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign, a multi-stage mission that is one of the most complex ever attempted. Think of it as a cosmic relay race. First, NASA's Perseverance rover is currently on Mars collecting and caching rock and soil samples. The next step involves a Sample Retrieval Lander, which will touch down near the cache, collect the samples, and launch them into Mars's orbit inside a small container called the Orbiting Sample. This is where Relativity comes in. Their Terran R rocket will be responsible for launching the Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) from Cape Canaveral. The ERO will travel to Mars, rendezvous with and capture the Orbiting Sample, and then fly back to Earth, safely delivering the first pristine samples from another planet. The launch is slated for no earlier than 2028, and the contract is valued at up to $3 billion, a landmark deal for a company that has yet to fly its heavy-lift rocket.
Why NASA Bet on a Startup
Choosing a relative newcomer for such a high-stakes mission might seem risky, but it’s a deliberate strategy for NASA. For years, the agency has been working to foster a competitive commercial space industry to drive down costs and spur innovation. By awarding contracts to companies like SpaceX for cargo and crew delivery to the International Space Station, NASA saved billions and helped create a vibrant new market. This contract with Relativity is the next evolution of that philosophy. NASA is betting that Relativity’s 3D-printing technology and agile startup culture can deliver the required launch capability more efficiently than traditional aerospace contractors. It signals that the agency is willing to embrace novel manufacturing techniques and partner with emerging players for its most important scientific missions, not just routine orbital flights.
The Big Tech Connection
The headline's mention of Eric Schmidt is significant. While he didn't found the company, the former Google CEO and prominent tech investor was an early and influential backer of Relativity Space. His involvement underscores a major trend: the flow of Silicon Valley capital and mindset into the 'New Space' economy. Just as Jeff Bezos has Blue Origin and Elon Musk has SpaceX, the involvement of tech billionaires provides startups with the massive capital required to weather long development cycles. This influx of private funding allows companies to take big technological risks—like trying to 3D-print an entire rocket—that might be impossible under more traditional funding models. This partnership is therefore not just a contract between a government agency and a company; it's a fusion of public scientific ambition and private-sector disruption.
