NASA has chosen Relativity Space to build and launch instruments to orbit Mars. The company’s rapid development timeline could see it beat SpaceX, setting up an exciting race for the Red Planet.
The mission, named Aeolus, will carry four instruments to measure the Martian atmosphere for safer landings and future crewed missions. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman sees this as a way to accelerate scientific data delivery through public-private partnerships, reducing costs while ramping up research speed.
Relativity Space was founded by former SpaceX engineers in 2015 with innovative 3D-printed rocket designs. However, its first launch failed, and it relied on Eric Schmidt’s investment last year to get back into the game. While the deal might give Schmidt a chance at outdoing Musk, it comes with significant risks for Relativity.
Despite the potential payoff from commercial applications, the market for these services remains uncertain. The tight timeline for Aeolus launches raises questions about Relativity’s ability to deliver on its ambitious plans in such a short space of time.
