AI Insight
NASA has awarded Relativity Space Inc. a contract to add its Terran R launch vehicle to the NASA Launch Services (NLS) II program through the contract's annual on-ramp provision. The NLS II contracts are multiple-award agreements with an ordering period extending through June 2030 and performance through December 2032, supporting missions across NASA's Human Spaceflight, Science, and Research and Technology Mission Directorates. The Terran R will now be available for selection in future NASA missions and launches for other government agencies including NOAA.
Why it matters
This expands NASA's roster of commercial launch providers, increasing competition and flexibility for future space missions. The on-ramp provision allows NASA to continuously integrate new launch capabilities as the commercial space industry evolves, potentially reducing costs and improving access to space.
Understand the Science
A NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract has been awarded by the agency to Relativity Space Inc., and its Terran R launch service in accordance with the contract’s on-ramp provision. The Terran R launch service will be available to NASA’s launch services to use for future missions.
The NLS II contracts are multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts with an ordering period through June 2030 and an overall period of performance through December 2032. The NLS II contracts include an on-ramp provision that provides an opportunity annually for new launch service providers to compete for future missions and allows existing contractors to introduce launch vehicles not currently on their NLS II contracts.
The NLS II contracts support the goals and objectives of the agency’s Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate, Science Mission Directorate, and the Research and Technology Mission Directorate. Under the contract, NASA also can provide launch services to other government agencies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
NASA’s Launch Services Program Office at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida manages the NLS II contracts. For more information about NASA, visit:
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Joshua Finch / Jimi Russell
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov / james.j.russell@nasa.gov
Amanda Griffin
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-593-6244
amanda.griffin@nasa.gov
Source: NASA Adds Relativity Space’s Terran R to Launch Services Contract