A private company will build and launch NASA's next Mars orbiter in 2028 - and it's not SpaceX
NASA has partnered with Relativity Space to design and launch a new Mars orbiter in 2028. The mission will utilize the Aeolus instrument suite to provide daily atmospheric data, marking a shift toward commercial partnerships for scientific exploration.
Why it matters
This partnership highlights the growing role of private aerospace companies in executing government-led scientific missions, potentially reducing costs and increasing mission frequency.
Missions A private company will build and launch NASA's next Mars orbiter in 2028 - and it's not SpaceX News By Josh Dinner published 19 June 2026 Schmidt has also reportedly invested significant sums in the company.
The report is a straightforward news account of a government contract announcement.
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