Space Force adds Relativity Space to national-security launch pool

The U.S. Space Force on July 7 onboarded Relativity Space's Relativity Federal subsidiary to the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3, Lane 1 program, letting the company compete for task orders on lower-priority, less-demanding national-security missions. Relativity received an initial $5 million task order for risk and capability assessments, joining Impulse Space as the newest additions to the on-ramping launch pool. The award backs Relativity's partially reusable Terran R rocket - an 87-meter vehicle powered by 13 3D-printed Aeon R engines and rated for about 23,500 kg to low Earth orbit - which is targeting a first flight no earlier than late 2026.