The Mars Society is excited to welcome Tim Ellis, co-founder and board member of Relativity Space and the company’s former CEO (2016-2025), as a featured speaker at the 2026 International Mars Society Convention, taking place October 22-24 at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
As one of the most innovative entrepreneurs in the commercial space sector, Ellis helped build Relativity Space into a pioneering aerospace company focused on transforming how rockets are designed, manufactured, and launched. Under his leadership, Relativity became known for its groundbreaking use of large-scale metal 3D printing and advanced automation technologies, dramatically reducing the time and complexity required to produce launch vehicles.
Founded in 2015, Relativity Space has played an important role in advancing the next generation of space transportation systems. The company’s long-term vision centers on building rockets and infrastructure that can eventually be manufactured not only on Earth, but also on the Moon and Mars—an approach that aligns closely with the goal of establishing a permanent human presence beyond our planet.
Through the development of its Terran launch vehicles and innovative manufacturing technologies, Relativity has helped push the aerospace industry toward more flexible, scalable, and cost-effective approaches to space exploration. Reflecting the company’s growing role in Mars exploration, NASA recently selected Relativity Space to build, launch, and operate the spacecraft for its 2028 Aeolus mission to Mars, which will gather critical atmospheric data to support future robotic and human missions to the Red Planet. The company’s emphasis on autonomous production and off-world manufacturing represents a critical step toward enabling future Mars missions and long-term human settlement.
At the 2026 International Mars Society Convention, Ellis will share insights from his experience building one of the world’s most ambitious aerospace companies, discuss emerging technologies shaping the future of spaceflight, and explore how commercial innovation can accelerate humanity’s expansion into the solar system.
For full info about our 2026 Mars Society convention, including how to register online, please visit our website (marssociety.org).
