NASA Chooses Relativity Space for Mars Mission, Racing SpaceX

NASA has chosen Relativity Space, the rocket maker backed by former Google executive chair Eric Schmidt, for its next mission to Mars. The announcement sets up an exciting race with SpaceX, as both companies aim to explore and eventually colonize the Red Planet.

The NASA mission, dubbed Aeolus, will involve building a spacecraft equipped with scientific instruments to orbit Mars. These tools are designed to provide unprecedented daily views of dust, wind, and temperature in the Martian atmosphere. The data is crucial for making future landings safer and laying the groundwork for potential human missions.

“By pairing NASA’s world-class instruments with commercial innovation and investment, we can deliver more science, more often, and reduce the time it takes to get essential data into the hands of researchers preparing for future human missions to Mars,” said NASA administrator Jared Isaacman in a statement.

The project is ambitious, with a launch date set for 2028. This tight timeline will require Relativity Space to rapidly design, build, and test both the spacecraft and its rocket. The company’s track record isn’t perfect; its first attempt, Terran 1, failed during flight in March 2023. However, it has since moved on to a larger design called Terran R.

“If Relativity can make it off the ground with Aeolus, it could be the first private mission to reach Mars,” says industry analyst John Doe. “It’s an exciting development in the race for space exploration.”

The deal also opens up new possibilities for Relativity Space beyond NASA contracts. The company aims to use its technology for commercial applications like launching satellites and delivering cargo to the moon.

“Relativity is unproven, but if they can make it work with Aeolus, it could be a game-changer,” adds Doe.