A private company will build and launch NASA’s next Mars orbiter in 2028 — and it’s not SpaceX
space.com Jun 20, 2026

A private company will build and launch NASA’s next Mars orbiter in 2028 — and it’s not SpaceX

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

NASA has announced a public-private partnership with Relativity Space to design, build, and launch a spacecraft carrying the Aeolus instrument suite to Mars in 2028. The Aeolus mission will provide daily measurements of the planet's global environment, collecting data on Martian dust and cloud cover, winds, and temperatures. The partnership aims to allow NASA to concentrate its resources on science discovery, with Relativity Space responsible for designing the spacecraft, launch, and satellite operations. The mission will refine scientific models for the Martian environment and reduce risks to future robotic and crewed missions. NASA will support Aeolus' scientific operations for at least one Martian year.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · By leveraging commercial innovation, NASA can accelerate the pace of scientific discovery and reduce the time it takes to get essential data into the hands of researchers.
  • · This partnership enables the agency to focus on high-priority science objectives while relying on private industry for spacecraft design and launch capabilities.