Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt Is the New Leader of Relativity Space (arstechnica.com) 15
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has taken control of rocket startup Relativity Space, replacing co-founder Tim Ellis as CEO and significantly funding the company's development of its medium-lift rocket, Terran R. The New York Times first reported (paywalled) the news. Ars Technica reports: Schmidt's involvement with Relativity has been quietly discussed among space industry insiders for a few months. Multiple sources told Ars that he has largely been bankrolling the company since the end of October, when the company's previous fundraising dried up. It is not immediately clear why Schmidt is taking a hands-on approach at Relativity. However, it is one of the few US-based companies with a credible path toward developing a medium-lift rocket that could potentially challenge the dominance of SpaceX and its Falcon 9 rocket. If the Terran R booster becomes commercially successful, it could play a big role in launching megaconstellations.
Schmidt's ascension also means that Tim Ellis, the company's co-founder, chief executive, and almost sole public persona for nearly a decade, is now out of a leadership position. "Today marks a powerful new chapter as Eric Schmidt becomes Relativity's CEO, while also providing substantial financial backing," Ellis wrote on the social media site X. "I know there's no one more tenacious or passionate to propel this dream forward. We have been working together to ensure a smooth transition, and I'll proudly continue to support the team as Co-founder and Board member." Relativity also on Monday released a video outlining the development of the Terran R rocket and the work required to reach the launch pad.
According to the video, the first "flight" version of the Terran R rocket will be built this year, with tentative plans to launch from a pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, in 2026. "The company aims to soft land the first stage of the first launch in the Atlantic Ocean," adds Ars. "However, the 'Block 1' version of the rocket will not fly again."
"Full reuse of the first stage will be delayed to future upgrades. Eventually, the Relativity officials said, they intend to reach a flight rate of 50 to 100 rockets a year with the Terran R when the vehicle is fully developed."
Schmidt's ascension also means that Tim Ellis, the company's co-founder, chief executive, and almost sole public persona for nearly a decade, is now out of a leadership position. "Today marks a powerful new chapter as Eric Schmidt becomes Relativity's CEO, while also providing substantial financial backing," Ellis wrote on the social media site X. "I know there's no one more tenacious or passionate to propel this dream forward. We have been working together to ensure a smooth transition, and I'll proudly continue to support the team as Co-founder and Board member." Relativity also on Monday released a video outlining the development of the Terran R rocket and the work required to reach the launch pad.
According to the video, the first "flight" version of the Terran R rocket will be built this year, with tentative plans to launch from a pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, in 2026. "The company aims to soft land the first stage of the first launch in the Atlantic Ocean," adds Ars. "However, the 'Block 1' version of the rocket will not fly again."
"Full reuse of the first stage will be delayed to future upgrades. Eventually, the Relativity officials said, they intend to reach a flight rate of 50 to 100 rockets a year with the Terran R when the vehicle is fully developed."
How fast are they planning to go ? (Score:4, Funny)
It is going to have to be pretty fast for them to noticeably live up to the company name!
Re: (Score:2)
Nepotism (Score:2)
So, does it have "Don't be evil" in the motto? (Score:2)
Yeah, I didn't think so. You can't fool people twice.
Re: (Score:2)
Adult supervision (Score:2)
"The role of anxiety in the development of human personality is central, and it is intricate beyond our understanding." --Timothy Leary. Certainly Eric Schmidt is an expert at that.
There goes the neighborhood (Score:2)
Good luck! They'll need it.
I sense a pattern (Score:2)
Could be worse: you could use your fortune to, I dunno, sponsor yacht racing (Ellison). Or import invasive hippos [google.com] for your menagerie (Escobar).
Re: (Score:2)
Could be worse: you could use your fortune to, I dunno, sponsor yacht racing (Ellison). Or import invasive hippos [google.com] for your menagerie (Escobar).
Ellison just hasn't yet figured out that the new yachts will be in space. Honestly, I don't see it being all that long, if the space-bro thing keeps up, before the billionaires are building their own private space yachts, soon to be followed by space fleets bearing their own names. Maybe they can have a nice big group outing to somewhere dangerous, not make it back, and leave us mortals to our world?
The Space Race of Morons (Score:2, Interesting)
The first space race was between nations. People ostensibly felt connected, there was post war nationalism, and the threat of nuclear war was real. So triumphs like 'the first man in space', and 'the moon landing' were shared across entire countries.
Now it's all for self gratification. If Jeff, or Elon, or Eric does some space thing first, no one cares. It doesn't solve any problems. It's just billionaires with too much time and money. They can't be bothered to work on problems that would lead to actu
An Aerospace company in search (Score:2)
Mr. Eric Schmidt... (Score:2)
in a recent WSJ Opinion piece on AI (3/1/2025) said:
"A mathematical proof can be checked and verified within the system itself."
Apparently, Mr. Schmidt, despite his impressive accomplishments, is not familiar with Mr. Kurt Godel.
What tf does Eric know about aerospace? (Score:2)
I guess this is just another example of the ability to think you can do anything.
I suppose he's going to design the rockets, like Leon. Lol.