Key facts
- NASA has chosen Relativity Space for a Mars mission.
- Eric Schmidt, former Google executive chairman, acquired Relativity Space.
- Relativity Space experienced difficulties in its path to orbit.
- The selection may lead to a competitive race with SpaceX for Mars exploration.
NASA has selected Relativity Space, a rocket company co-founded by former Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt, for a mission to Mars. Schmidt acquired the company last year after it encountered difficulties in achieving orbit.
This selection places Relativity Space in a position to potentially compete with SpaceX, another entity with significant ambitions for Mars exploration.
The partnership with NASA signifies a major step for Relativity Space as it aims to establish itself in the competitive space exploration sector.