# Tim Ellis

> Tim Ellis is the American aerospace engineer who co-founded Relativity Space with Jordan Noone and served as CEO until March 2025. A former Blue Origin propulsion engineer and USC graduate, he pursued large-scale metal printing as a way to change rocket manufacturing. Relativity’s Terran 1 reached space in March 2023 but failed to reach orbit; the company subsequently focused on Terran R. Ellis announced that he would continue as co-founder and board member.

- **Role:** Co-founder and Board Member at Relativity Space
- **Organizations:** Relativity Space, Blue Origin, USC Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, National Space Council Users’ Advisory Group
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.S., Aerospace Engineering, University of Southern California, M.S., Aerospace Engineering, University of Southern California
- **Known for:** Co-founded Relativity Space and led it through Terran 1’s first flight., Helped bring metal 3D printing in-house at Blue Origin., MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 honoree, 2019.

## Career timeline

- **2012** — Earned an aerospace engineering bachelor’s degree at USC.
- **2013** — Completed an aerospace engineering master’s degree at USC; joined Blue Origin full time after three internships.
- **2015** — Co-founded Relativity Space with Jordan Noone.
- **2016** — Relativity participated in Y Combinator’s Winter batch and began testing at NASA Stennis.
- **2018** — Selected for the National Space Council Users’ Advisory Group; Relativity secured exclusive use of Stennis’s E-4 Test Complex.
- **2019** — Named to MIT Technology Review’s global Innovators Under 35 list.
- **2023-03-22** — Relativity launched Terran 1, 85% 3D printed by mass; it reached space but did not reach orbit.
- **2023-04** — Relativity shifted its focus to Terran R with a hybrid manufacturing approach.
- **2025-03** — Eric Schmidt succeeded Ellis as CEO; Ellis announced he would continue as co-founder and board member.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Relativity Space and led it through Terran 1’s first flight.
- Helped bring metal 3D printing in-house at Blue Origin.
- MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 honoree, 2019.
- Selected for the National Space Council Users’ Advisory Group in 2018.

## Latest updates

- **2025-03** — Stepped down as CEO as Eric Schmidt assumed the role; announced continued involvement as co-founder and board member.
- **2026-10** — At research time, the official leadership page names Eric Schmidt as CEO and executive chairman. The official Terran R page targets a late-2026 launch; this is a company target, not a completed flight.

## Links

- Website: https://www.relativityspace.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-ellis-11167172
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/thetimellis

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/tim-ellis
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-11