The future of rocket manufacturing has touched down in Mississippi.

At NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center, nestled in Hancock County, Miss., right on the border of Louisiana, the Los Angeles-based 3D-printed spacecraft manufacturer, Relativity Space, is planning a massive $59 million expansion to make a permanent manufacturing hub in this bucolic corner of the southeast.

“This agreement demonstrates again NASA’s commitment to work with our industry partners to expand commercial access to low Earth orbit,” said Dr. Rick Gilbrech, director, Stennis Space Center. “This helps NASA maintain focus on the ambitious Artemis program that will land the first female and the next male on the south pole of the Moon by 2024.”

Relativity already has four of its proprietary 3D printers running in its Los Angeles headquarters and plans to build out 12 larger units in its new Mississippi digs. The company ultimately expects to get 24 of its printers up and running.

Read the full story, "Relativity is building a 3D-printing rocket manufacturing hub in Mississippi," at www.techcrunch.com.

• Related: Additive manufacturing reaches new heights
• Related: New frontier: Here's where 3D printing is headed next in industrial manufacturing

Get breaking industry news delivered right to your inbox.
Sign up for the daily Plant Services Smart Minute newsletter.