Rocket Lab vs Relativity Space
A comprehensive side-by-side comparison of two prominent small-launch and emerging medium-launch companies, updated with the latest data from SpaceNexus.
| Metric | Rocket Lab | Relativity Space |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Long Beach, CA (NZ origins) | Long Beach, CA |
| Employees | ~2,000 | ~600 (reduced from peak) |
| Total Funding | ~$1.3B+ (pre-IPO) | ~$1.65B |
| Valuation / Market Cap | ~$10B (RKLB, NASDAQ) | Private (est. $4.2B, 2022 round) |
| Public Status | Public (NASDAQ: RKLB) | Private |
| Primary Vehicle | Electron (operational) | Terran R (in development) |
| Previous Vehicle | N/A | Terran 1 (retired 2023, did not reach orbit) |
| Orbital Launches | 55+ (Electron) | 0 orbital (Terran 1 cancelled) |
| LEO Payload Capacity | 300 kg (Electron) | 20,000 kg (Terran R, target) |
| Reuse Strategy | Electron booster recovery (helicopter catch, partial) | Terran R fully reusable (planned) |
| Revenue (Annual) | ~$430M (FY2024) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Manufacturing Approach | Traditional + vertical integration | 3D printing (Stargate proprietary printers) |
| Space Systems Division | Yes (spacecraft buses, components) | No (launch-only focus) |
Key Differences
Rocket Lab is the more established and operationally proven company, with over 55 Electron launches and a growing Space Systems division that manufactures spacecraft components and complete satellite buses. Its 2021 SPAC listing on NASDAQ as RKLB gave it access to public capital markets, and its revenues have grown steadily toward $430M annually. The pivot to medium-lift with Neutron represents its next growth phase, targeting a reusable rocket competitive with Falcon 9 for constellation deployment.
Relativity Space took a fundamentally different bet: that additive manufacturing (3D printing) could reduce rocket production time from years to days and drastically cut part counts. Its Terran 1 small launcher was retired in 2023 after failing to reach orbit, and the company pivoted entirely to Terran R, a medium-lift fully reusable vehicle. While Relativity's manufacturing technology is genuinely innovative — its Stargate printers are among the largest metal 3D printers in the world — the company has yet to demonstrate an orbital mission, putting it significantly behind Rocket Lab in proven flight heritage.
Track both companies with real-time data on SpaceNexus