NASA selects Eric Schmidt’s Relativity Space for 2028 Mars mission

At a glance:

• NASA partners with Relativity Space to launch the Aeolus payload to Mars in 2028.
• The mission will deliver the first integrated, daily global view of Martian winds, temperatures, dust, and clouds.
• Four instruments on board will directly inform entry, descent, and landing systems for future astronaut missions.

A new partnership for Mars exploration

NASA has selected Relativity Space, the rocket company led by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, to launch its Aeolus payload to Mars in 2028 under a new public-private partnership. Under the agreement, Relativity Space will provide the spacecraft, rocket, and cruise operations for the mission, marking a significant step in the company’s transition from terrestrial launches to deep space exploration.

The Aeolus payload is designed to provide the first integrated, daily, global view of Martian winds, temperatures, dust, and clouds. NASA emphasized that the data collected will directly inform entry, descent, and landing systems and support safer, more predictable mission planning for astronauts, addressing one of the critical challenges of human spaceflight.

The Aeolus payload and its scientific goals

The Aeolus payload will carry four instruments to study the Martian atmosphere in unprecedented detail. These instruments will measure atmospheric dynamics, including wind patterns and thermal variations, as well as dust and cloud composition. The mission aims to create a comprehensive dataset that could revolutionize our understanding of Mars’ climate and environmental conditions.

NASA highlighted that the mission’s primary objective is to gather real-time atmospheric data to improve the safety and precision of future human missions. By understanding how the Martian atmosphere behaves on a daily basis, engineers can better design landing systems and predict environmental conditions during critical phases of exploration.

Eric Schmidt’s move to Relativity Space

Eric Schmidt, who served as CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011, became CEO of Relativity Space in 2025, a few years after the company launched its first 3D-printed rocket, Terran 1. The rocket, which was touted as the world’s first fully 3D-printed vehicle, failed shortly after its launch, highlighting the technical challenges of additive manufacturing in aerospace.

Despite the setback, Relativity Space has continued to advance its technology, with its larger Terran R rocket not yet having completed its first launch. The company’s shift toward deep space missions under Schmidt’s leadership signals a strategic pivot toward more ambitious projects, leveraging his experience in scaling technology ventures.

Terran rockets: past and future

Relativity Space’s Terran 1 rocket, while unsuccessful, represented a bold experiment in 3D-printed aerospace. The company’s next vehicle, Terran R, is a reusable rocket designed for both Earth orbit and lunar missions. Its upcoming launch is highly anticipated as a potential milestone for the company’s commercial and governmental contracts.

With the NASA contract secured, Relativity Space now faces the challenge of ensuring Terran R is operational in time for the 2028 Mars mission. The company’s ability to meet this timeline will be crucial not only for this mission but also for establishing itself as a viable player in the competitive space launch market.