EX-5.1

LOGO

Exhibit 5.1

Sarah Sellers

+1 212 479 6370

SSellers@cooley.com

June 15, 2022

Rigetti Computing, Inc.

775 Heinz Avenue

Berkeley, CA, 94710

Re:

Rigetti Computing, Inc. – Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Rigetti Computing, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission covering the registration of the reoffer and resale of 75,000 shares (the “Reoffer Prospectus Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) previously issued pursuant to the Rigetti Computing, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), by the selling stockholders described in the prospectus (the “Prospectus”) included in the Registration Statement.

In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon (a) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (b) the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, each as currently in effect, (c) the Plan, and (d) originals or copies certified to our satisfaction of such records, documents, certificates, memoranda and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below.

We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies, the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of certificates of public officials and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by all persons other than the Company where authorization, execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness thereof. As to certain factual matters, we have relied upon a certificate of an officer of the Company and have not independently verified such matters.

We note that the Company was initially incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and was domesticated (the “Domestication”) as a corporation in the State of Delaware in accordance with Section 388 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). We have assumed all matters determinable under the laws of the Cayman Islands, including without limitation that (i) immediately prior to the Domestication, the Company was duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands, (ii) the Company had full power, authority and legal right to domesticate in the State of Delaware pursuant to Section 388 and to authorize the issuance of its shares prior to the Domestication, (iii) the laws of the Cayman Islands permitted the Company to domesticate in the State of Delaware pursuant to Section 388, (iv) the discontinuation of the Company from the Cayman Islands was duly authorized by all necessary corporate action as provided in its governing documents and was duly effected in accordance with Cayman Islands law, (v) any and all consents, approvals and authorizations from applicable Cayman Island governmental authorities required to authorize and permit the Company to domesticate in the State of Delaware pursuant to Section 388 were obtained, (vi) the approval of the Plans by the board and shareholders of the Company as a Cayman Islands exempted company prior to the Domestication were done in accordance with the applicable governing documents of the Company and the laws of the Cayman Islands.

COOLEY LLP 55 HUDSON YARDS NEW YORK, NY 10001-2157

T: (212) 479-6000 F: (212) 479-6275 COOLEY.COM


Sincerely,

COOLEY LLP

By:		/s/ Sarah Sellers
		Sarah Sellers