Image: Space DailyIn June 2026, Relativity Space ā the rocket company Eric Schmidt took over in 2025, whose one rocket has never reached orbit ā said it would privately build and fly a Mars orbiter in 2028, carrying NASA's Aeolus atmospheric instruments and doubling as a communications relay, paid for by a philanthropic backer it has not named
⢠Relativity Space announced plans in June 2026 to privately build and launch a Mars orbiter by 2028. ⢠The mission will carry NASA's Aeolus atmospheric instruments and serve as a communications relay, funded by an unnamed philanthropic donor. ⢠The announcement comes despite the company's poor track record, as its only rocket flight in March 2023 failed to reach orbit due to a second-stage engine failure.
spacedaily.com

