NASA Integrates Relativity Space Terran R into VADR Fleet
Relativity Space's heavy-lift 3D-printed rocket joins NASA’s VADR launch services contract, expanding the agency's options for high-risk, low-cost scientific missions.
VADR Expansion: Relativity Space
NASA has officially expanded its Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) contract, adding Relativity Space’s heavy-lift Terran R to its roster of approved orbital launch vehicles.
According to NASA Breaking News, the amendment allows the agency to utilize the Long Beach-based firm’s upcoming reusable, 3D-printed rocket for future scientific and technology demonstrations. The VADR program, established in 2022 with a five-year performance period, serves as a high-risk, low-cost procurement vehicle designed to lower the barrier for CubeSats and experimental payloads.
Strategic Payload Delivery
By incorporating the Terran R, NASA’s Launch Services Program (LSP) continues to broaden its portfolio of commercial partnerships. The VADR contract has a maximum total value of $300 million across all participating vendors, providing a flexible framework for the agency to match specific mission requirements with the evolving private launch market.
Relativity Space joins a diverse list of providers already vetted for the program. The integration of Terran R—noted for its large-scale additive manufacturing production—signals a continued shift toward utilizing unconventional, high-cadence launch architectures for non-critical agency missions. This move ensures NASA maintains a competitive edge in orbital access while supporting the growth of the domestic commercial space sector.