Relativity Space plans to expand its operations at Cape Canaveral and add thousands of high-paying new jobs by the end of 2034, Space Florida announced.
The company plans to expand test and launch support infrastructure across NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, per a Space Florida press release.
That includes construction of an additional production facility for the two-stage Terran R rocket, which stands 284 feet tall. Terran R will launch from Launch Complex 16 at the Space Force installation, and company officials hope the rocket debuts by year’s end.
“Expanding our capacity in Florida enables our ability to scale the Terran R program to support commercial, scientific, and national security missions,” Relativity Space Executive Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt said in the press release.
“We’re grateful to Gov. Ron DeSantis, Space Florida, FDOT, and our partners across the state for their ongoing support to make this expansion plan a reality,” Schmidt said.
Further details remain undisclosed. DeSantis’ office and various agencies announced the future expansion from the Farnborough International Airshow in England. Messages seeking comment were left with Relativity Space on Tuesday, July 21. Meanwhile, extensive construction remains ongoing at Launch Complex 16.
Space Florida discussed Relativity Space’s expansion project last month under the secretive code name Project Forge. During that June 2 meeting at Orlando International Airport, the Space Florida board of directors approved up to $350 million in conduit financing for the mystery company’s research, development and launch operations.
A Project Forge target site is a parcel adjacent to State Road 407 at Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville. According to a June 18 Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority memo, “Forge is reviewing zoning, wetlands, access points, and initial conceptual site layouts for the property.”
“Relativity is eyeing a couple of different locations here in North Brevard. I really hope it is in Titusville,” Titusville Mayor Andrew Connors said in a July 21 phone interview.
“I would love to have Relativity join our city as they look to help NASA get to Mars and advance human space travel,” Connors said.
Last month, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced a new Mars-mission partnership with Relativity Space. NASA will provide the Aeolus atmospheric‑science instrument payload suite, while the company will provide the spacecraft, rocket and operations to deliver the instruments to Mars.
Aeolus is scheduled to launch in 2028. Its instruments are designed “to provide the first integrated, daily, global view of Martian winds, temperatures, dust, and clouds,” according to a NASA press release.
Relativity Space will be eligible to receive up to $134 million from the FDOT Spaceport Improvement Program, the Space Florida press release said.
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Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY, where he has covered news since 2004. Contact Neale at Rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Relativity Space plans major expansion, thousands of jobs near Cape Canaveral
Reporting by Rick Neale, Florida Today / Florida Today
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By Rick Neale, Florida Today | USA TODAY Network
