relativity space has signed a launch deal with Intelsat that would allow the telecommunications giant’s satellites to fly on a Terran R rocket starting in 2026.
Relativity did not disclose the value of the contract, but did say it brings the total Terran R order book to $1.8 billion across nine customers. Terran R has not flown yet. The rocket’s first test launch won’t take place until 2026 at the earliest, Relativity CEO Tim Ellis said earlier this year.
Terran R is a medium-lift launch vehicle that will be capable of transporting from 23,500 kilograms in a reusable configuration to more than 33,500 kilograms when used as expendable. The 270-foot-tall rocket will compete with SpaceX’s Falcon 9, which currently has a near monopoly on American launch services.
Relativity is well aware of this monopoly. In a statement about the new deal with Inmarsat, Ellis called it: “The space industry clearly requires a more competitive, diversified and commercially disruptive launch capability,” he said. “Relativity is developing Terran R as a customer-focused reusable launch vehicle to solve this need.”
While Terran R has been in the works for a while, Relativity Space announced in April that it would shelve its small launch vehicle, Terran 1, in favor of the larger vehicle. That change reflects the evolution of the launch market, where customers are looking to launch a single satellite at a time and are therefore willing to reduce costs by opting for a rideshare mission; or they are launching megaconstellations made up of thousands of satellites and require a large volume of payload on the rocket.
Relativity conducted a single test launch of Terran 1 in March. While the rocket failed to reach orbit (completely normal for the first attempt at a new rocket), Relativity crowned the test a success.
