Relativity Space breaks ground on new test stand at Stennis Space Center
From the Mississippi Development Authority
Leading 3D-printed rocket company Relativity Space has broken ground on a new vertical test stand at the A-2 complex located at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Hancock County. In October 2022, Relativity announced a large $267 million expansion at Stennis that will create 630 jobs. The new test stand, part of the larger expansion, will support advanced vertical stage testing for Terran R, the company’s medium-to-heavy lift reusable rocket.
The entire project, which includes several new engine test stands, a full-scale second stage stand, office buildings and a vehicle hangar, will enable the company to increase its testing, increase the speed of iterative learning cycles and shorten speed to market. Originally designed to withstand a maximum thrust of 1.5 million pounds, the A-2 test stand is being upgraded by Relativity to accommodate thrust of more than 3 million pounds, positioning it at the forefront of America’s commercial space program. The expansion brings Relativity’s total footprint at the site to nearly 300 acres, making it the largest commercial presence at Stennis. Read more here.