January 2026 Company Update

January marked a strong start to the year, with meaningful progress across design, build, test, and launch.

Design
This month, the team released 1,856 flight parts. At this stage of the program, part releases are primarily for secondary structures and integration hardware that will be installed later in the build process. Both the stage one and stage two shipping assemblies are more than 90% released, enabling downstream manufacturing, integration, and shipment planning. The stage two shipping assembly is more than 90% released, enabling downstream manufacturing, integration, and shipment planning.

Build
Manufacturing continues in parallel across major subsystems, supporting ongoing integration milestones. On the stage two tank, structural and integration work is progressing, with all cryogenic composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) installed. Bracket installation is also underway, and thermal protection systems are being applied.

The stage one tank has been offloaded from the circumferential friction stir welder and moved into an integration lane on the factory floor. Teams are completing corrosion mitigation, paint touch-ups, and weld buy-offs, while fuel and LOX domes are finalized with bracket installation. All panels for the dedicated stage one qualification article are complete, and barrels are now moving onto the circumferential friction stir welder as they complete mechanical assembly.

Thrust structure integration continues, with fire ceiling and avionics tray installation now complete and harness routing underway. The forward barrel of the interstage completed machining on the vertical turning lathe, and the aft barrel will follow shortly. Domes for the stage one qualification article and future flights are on-site and are undergoing mechanical assembly.

In propulsion, the team shipped more first stage Aeon R flight engines to NASA Stennis.

Test
Flight engine acceptance testing continues at pace, with additional campaigns complete. In parallel, Aeon V development testing continues ahead of upcoming qualification.

Enabling infrastructure to support upcoming test campaigns is also progressing at NASA Stennis. At the A2 stage test stand, all vaporizers – which convert cryogenic liquids into controlled gas flow – have been lifted into position. Nearby, the concrete slab is nearly complete, and column installation is underway for the new hangar.

Launch
January brought cooler winter conditions to Florida, but progress at LC-16 continued uninterrupted, with ground systems and launch complex facilities advancing in parallel. Siding on the booster processing section of the horizontal integration facility (HIF) is nearly complete, and spray foam insulation is approaching the halfway point. Siding on the southern portion of the HIF – designed to support encapsulated fairing breakover and mate operations – will begin once remaining internal framing is installed.

The water tower is being painted and prepared for additional height through installation of new stanchions and the downcomer. Concrete pours for the launch mount have completed their cure, with formwork scheduled for removal and structural steel installation now underway.

With continued momentum across design, build, test, and launch, the Terran R program is entering a critical phase of the year. Thanks for following along, and we look forward to sharing further updates next month.