Relativity Space, a startup whose only rocket launch ended in failure, has been tapped by NASA to build and launch a critical Mars orbiter in 2028. This decision places a significant deep-space mission in the hands of a company yet to achieve orbital success, raising questions about the agency's evolving risk assessment and its commitment to mission reliability.
NASA has awarded a high-profile Mars mission, named Aeolus, to Relativity Space, but the company has never successfully put a payload into orbit. Its sole launch, the Terran 1 rocket, failed to reach orbit as planned, according to Startup Fortune. This selection of an unproven entity for a vital interplanetary mission marks a notable departure from NASA's traditional procurement methods.
NASA appears to be trading established reliability for the potential speed and innovation offered by a private startup, a strategy that could either revolutionize deep space missions or lead to costly failures. A profound shift in the agency's risk tolerance, prioritizing potential innovation over proven reliability for deep-space endeavors, a move that could jeopardize future deep-space endeavors, is indicated by this choice.
The Aeolus Mission and Relativity's Comprehensive Role
NASA selected Relativity Space to provide both the spacecraft and the rocket for the Aeolus probe mission to Mars, reports Scientific American. This integrated contract means Relativity Space is responsible for the entire mission architecture, from vehicle construction to launch. The company announced its intention to build and fly a science orbiter to Mars on June 17, 2026, according to Space Daily, suggesting a proactive push from the startup itself.
The Aeolus orbiter will carry NASA's atmospheric instruments, designed for scientific research into Mars' environment. Crucially, it will also serve as a communications relay for surface assets already on Mars or planned for future missions. This dual role significantly amplifies the risk associated with an unproven provider, as a failure could isolate existing or future Mars surface missions. Entrusting an unproven startup with this vital "communications relay for surface assets" means NASA is not just risking a single orbiter, but potentially isolating existing or future Mars surface missions, placing an unprecedented bet on a company that has yet to achieve orbit.
