July 2026 Company Update
July was an eventful month for the Terran R program, with the stage one structural qualification campaign complete, the second stage advancing through cryoproof testing at NASA Stennis, and launch site infrastructure continuing to take shape at Cape Canaveral.
Design
In July, the team released 1,130 flight parts and fully released the stage one shipping assembly. This milestone – the culmination of more than two years of design work – marks the full release of more than 11,000 stage one structures, fluids systems, avionics, and harnesses, accelerating hardware production and integration across the program.
Build
On the stage one flight article, teams are installing joiners, stringers, and doublers across the tank. The forward barrel achieved a significant milestone with the first wet installs of external stringers completed, while additional fuel barrels completed the final panel fit-up, marking the last of all doubler fit-ups on the vehicle. Landing leg operations began laser tracking and tooling validation for two panels, and the grid fin weldment review was completed.
Thrust structure integration is advancing toward mate, with outer engine feedlines installed and fluids testing underway. In parallel, avionics boxes are being installed with checkouts in progress, and flight one engines are being prepared for installation.
On the interstage, work is progressing on both the forward and aft barrels ahead of mate, with teams focused on final fit up, torquing, and sealing of interstage stiffening.
Looking beyond flight one, teams completed the first circumferential friction stir weld (CFSW) for a flight two tank and continued building Aeon R engines, maintaining momentum on the next vehicle. Manufacturing capabilities also continued to advance, with the team successfully producing, laminating, and curing a carbon fiber composite panel in-house.
Test
The stage one structural qualification test campaign is officially complete. The structural test stand, affectionately known as the Tender Loving Crusher (TLC), pushed the dedicated test article further than any previous operation, conducting lifecycle and burst pressure testing. Highlights included 420 pressure cycles, 62 proof, stability, and ultimate loading cases, and axial compression loading reaching 4.3 million pounds-force (19.4 million Newtons) while pressurized. Successful completion of this campaign validates that the stage one tank is ready to withstand the demanding loads of ground operations, launch, and flight.
Following the qualification campaign, the stage one downcomer completed the first phase of its acceptance testing campaign, including hydrostatic and pneumatic proof testing, structural validation, and leak checks.
At NASA Stennis, teams readied the A2 stage test stand, installing all hold downs, erecting the lightning protection system (LPS) tower, activating the liquid natural gas (LNG) system, and installing stage heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). After conducting vehicle checkouts, the second stage was lifted and mechanically mated onto the stand and completed cryoproof testing. This portion of the test campaign validated the stage under pressurized conditions with cryogenic fluids, a key addition beyond prior pressurized testing with water. The tank then underwent composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) proof testing, validating the integrity of the high-pressure system that will pressurize propellants during flight.
On the nearby R stand, the Aeon V engine completed acceptance testing, wrapping up all engine testing for flight one. The Aeon V engine will soon be installed on the second stage ahead of upcoming stage hot fire testing.
Launch
At Launch Complex 16 (LC-16) in Cape Canaveral, the team energized the horizontal integration facility (HIF) and completed the first proof load test for a 270,000-pound (122,470 kilogram) assembly room crane. The transporter erector (TE) upper strongback arrived on-site and was moved into the assembly room, where Terran R's stages will be mated. In parallel, cleanroom outfitting is underway, transporter erector rail installation is progressing, and the foundation for the approach road is complete.
Permanent site power has been activated, with two dedicated 22-kilovolt feeds capable of supporting planned loads and future expansions. On the commodities side, the water tower is being painted, a vaporizer was installed at the water farm, and the final foundation for the cross-country piping is complete.
This progress continues advancing readiness for Terran R's first flight while laying the foundation for high-volume launch operations. Florida will also be home to expanded infrastructure to support future missions and a growing launch cadence.
Beyond technical execution, Relativity continues to secure opportunities that reinforce long-term demand for Terran R. In July, the U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) on-ramped Relativity into the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 program. NSSL is the single largest procurement activity in the USSF, and on-ramp positions Relativity to compete for future high-priority national security launch missions. Selection into NSSL reflects growing confidence in Terran R's capabilities to support high-cadence access to space for national security, commercial, and science missions.