Terran R Progress

Story by Matthew Dawson

@mattdawson.photography

Published by Matthew Dawson June 28th, 2026

Photographs by Matthew Dawson Unless stated otherwise

Relativity Space continues to make progress towards the inaugural flight of the Terran R rocket. It's the companies next generation Launch Vehicle. According to their update published in May, the company has completed the installation of stringer joiners and doublers on the Stage 1 qualification article. 

Stringer joiners and doublers help strengthen the vehicle and the rockets primary structure which is crucial to flight and structural testing of the vehicle.

Engineers over at Relativity Space have designed and worked through the qualification test matrix and load cases and testing has been seen through multiple images online posted by local photographers.

Powering Terran R are 13 Aeon R engines on the first stage. At this moment in time the qualification article does not have those engines. These engines combined can produce 3.5 million pounds of trust at liftoff while only a single engine the Aeon V vacuum engine powers the second stage into orbit. 

Both first and second stage engines utilize the same propellants on the Terran R. They use a combination of Liquid Oxygen (LOX), and Methane (CH4). These propellants used reminded me of starship over in Boca Chica, Texas as that flight vehicle uses the same propellants! 

With this advancement in testing, Relativity Space enters the space race at a more rapid and competitive rate. In last months update, they announced the shipment of the Stage 2 qualification article from Long Beach to NASA's Stennis Space Center, this will complete the Aeon V qualification campaign for its first flight. All together Terran R is expanding Relativity Space's capabilities as a company and launch provider and allowing them to expand into a private market that was only once reachable by the company Space X.