Relativity Space is preparing for its inaugural 3D-printed rocket launch later this year. A success could disrupt the aerospace sector much like SpaceX did over a decade ago.
As a teenager, co-founder Tim Ellis spent hours daily with LEGOs, crafting custom spaceships—an obsession that left one thumb permanently bent backward.
This passion for creation led him to the University of Southern California in 2008, where he majored in aerospace engineering. There, he joined the Rocket Propulsion Lab, a student group building amateur rockets, and met fellow aerospace engineer Jordan Noone. They shared internships before landing at rival firms: Ellis at Blue Origin and Noone at SpaceX.
Early in their careers and under 25, they grew frustrated with slow progress, especially the unrealized promise of emerging 3D printing technologies. 3D printing a rocket could slash supply chains, reduce parts by up to 100 times, and enable assembly in days with sufficient printers.
Ellis and Noone resigned from their jobs at the end of 2015 and launched Relativity Space. Weeks later, investor Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, wrote a $500,000 check, spotting their exceptional potential.
Soon after, they joined Y Combinator, the elite startup accelerator. They refined their vision for 3D-printed rockets and built the first "Stargate" printer prototype. Three months on, they secured $10 million in Series A funding from Silicon Valley investors.
In January 2019, they recruited David Giger, fresh from nearly 13 years at SpaceX. He viewed reusable launchers as the past decade's breakthrough but saw 3D printing as the future.
Giger refined the Terran 1 rocket and oversaw Aeon 1 engine tests. He optimized it for low-Earth orbit payloads, expanding the fairing to three meters wide and seven meters tall—practical scale without demanding oversized engines.
Recently, Relativity secured production facilities at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. At under five years old, with founders in their twenties, this reflects profound trust from NASA and the U.S. government.
Experts recognize that mastering 3D-printed rockets could transform other industries too, boosting the U.S. economy.
Signs point to a burgeoning success story. A November CNBC report valued Relativity at $2.3 billion after a $500 million raise—top-tier among private space firms. SpaceX, the leader, hit $44 billion last year.
Key challenges remain: Will a 3D-printed rocket fly? Will its engine ignite? Can tanks, plumbing, and nine engines form a viable first stage? Answers come with Terran 1's launch this fall.
