April 2026 Company Update
April brought continued momentum across the Terran R program, with progress advancing across design, build, test, and launch.
Design
This month, 2,055 flight parts were released, with a concerted effort on the stage one shipping assembly. Nearly all of the first stage structural components and avionics were released, unlocking downstream integration.
Build
On the second stage, tank internals and structures are complete and focus has turned to final integration activities. Avionics trays, boxes, harnesses, and valves have been installed, alongside raceway integration. Low-voltage checkouts have begun, bringing together avionics boxes and flight software on the vehicle. In parallel, teams are preparing for upcoming stage shipment to NASA Stennis, with the aft closeout for transportation delivered, the aft cradle nearing completion, and the boat in transit.
On the thrust structure, fluids routing moved forward, alongside completion of key subsystem and structural work and installation of main harnessing. In parallel, fire ceiling drilling continued and the handling fixture for the breakover tool was finalized.
Stage one qualification article welding is complete, with the final circumferential friction stir weld (CFSW) finished. The downcomer is nearing completion, ahead of vehicle installation and structural qualification testing.
In propulsion, all first stage Aeon R engines for flight one have been manufactured, assembled, and shipped. Production continues to ramp for future flights, enabling high-volume operations.
In-house battery production is also ramping, with units undergoing flight build and acceptance testing.
Test
With the second stage hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) build complete, software run-for-record (R4R) testing began. These tests demonstrate end-to-end integration of flight software with avionics, validating system behavior under flight-like conditions.
At NASA Stennis, Aeon R acceptance testing remained underway, with more engines accepted for flight. On the second stage Aeon V engine, the team ran full-duration mission duty cycles (MDCs) and reached key service life milestones.
Infrastructure continued to scale to support high-volume testing. Fluids routing efforts advanced on the A2 stage test stand, and fabrication of the diverter is actively progressing. The first vertical liquid natural gas (LNG) pump was delivered, enabling us to supply 150,000 gallons (567,811 liters) of fluid in 30 minutes. Simultaneously, installation of the acoustic water ring started, where multiple sections will be lifted and field welded into place.
Back in Long Beach, final modifications to the structural test stand for upcoming stage one qualification testing are underway. Inside the factory, infrastructure expansion continues, with additional powder bed fusion and CNC machines installed in the expanded machine shop.
Launch
At Cape Canaveral, site development advanced at LC-16. The water tower completed its fourth lift, now standing at 275 feet tall (83.82 meters). Foundations for the water farm are underway, and initial valve click checks were run at the liquid oxygen (LOX) farm, officially beginning activation of the system. Launch operations also conducted the first hot fill on a liquid nitrogen (LN2) tank, loading cryogenic fluid into the 15,000-gallon (56,781 liters) tank. Steel framing for the diverter has been delivered, and foundations for the lightning protection systems (LPS) are complete and steel erection has begun.
Key hardware and integration milestones continue to progress, advancing Terran R through critical phases of development on the path to first launch.