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NASA picks Eric Schmidt’s rocket company for Mars mission, setting up a race with SpaceX
Relativity Space, a rocket maker acquired by former Google executive chair Eric Schmidt last year, has been hired by NASA to build a spacecraft for a mission to Mars. The contract, announced Tuesday, tasks the company with housing four scientific instruments, launching them into space, and flying them to the Red Planet. This public-private partnership model, similar to NASA deals with SpaceX and Firefly Aerospace, sees the agency handling science while Relativity provides low-cost infrastructure. The mission, named Aeolus, aims to provide the first daily, global view of Mars' atmospheric dust, winds, and temperature from orbit. NASA says this data will enhance safety for landers and future astronauts. "By pairing NASA’s world‑class instruments with commercial innovation and investment, we can deliver more science, more often," said NASA administrator Jared Isaacman. The mission is scheduled for launch in 2028, requiring Relativity to design the spacecraft, build the rocket (Terran R), and meet a tight timeline. NASA did not disclose the contract value; Relativity did not comment. Under this model, Relativity shares development costs in exchange for allowing NASA to stretch its budget, but risks remain: Relativity is unproven, and past startup partners have failed. The company, founded in 2015 by former SpaceX and Blue Origin engineers, aimed to use 3D printing for cheaper rockets. Its first design, Terran-1, failed mid-flight in 2023. After fundraising challenges, Schmidt took a majority stake last year, becoming CEO. He has expressed interest in orbital data centers and is funding a space telescope, Lazuili, through his philanthropy. Schmidt's takeover puzzled some due to the crowded rocket field, but pent-up demand from Blue Origin delays could yield payoff if Terran R succeeds. The NASA contract also offers Schmidt a chance to outpace Elon Musk, a frequent AI safety sparring partner. While Musk has long discussed Martian ambitions, SpaceX has not sent its own mission to Mars. If Aeolus launches on schedule in 2028, it could be the first private mission to reach the Red Planet.