NASA Taps Relativity Space for Mars Mission Ahead of SpaceX

NASA has selected Relativity Space, the rocket company now led by former Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt, for an ambitious Mars mission that could position the startup ahead of Elon Musk’s SpaceX in reaching the Red Planet with a private spacecraft.

The U.S. space agency announced on Tuesday that Relativity Space will build, launch, and operate a spacecraft carrying NASA’s new Aeolus science mission to Mars. The project follows NASA’s growing strategy of partnering with private companies to deliver space missions while the agency focuses on scientific research and payload development.

Under the agreement, Relativity Space will design the spacecraft, integrate NASA’s scientific instruments, launch the mission into space, and transport it to Mars. This commercial partnership mirrors previous NASA contracts awarded to companies such as SpaceX for International Space Station cargo missions and Firefly Aerospace for lunar exploration.

The Aeolus mission is designed to improve scientists’ understanding of the Martian atmosphere.

Equipped with four advanced scientific instruments, the spacecraft will orbit Mars and provide what NASA expects to be the first daily global observations of dust activity, wind patterns, and atmospheric temperatures. The information is expected to play a key role in making future robotic landings and eventual human missions to Mars safer.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the partnership combines NASA’s scientific expertise with private-sector innovation, allowing the agency to conduct more missions while reducing costs and accelerating the delivery of valuable scientific data for future Mars exploration.

The mission is currently scheduled for launch in 2028, leaving Relativity Space with an aggressive development timeline. The company must complete both the Aeolus spacecraft and its next-generation Terran R rocket before the planned launch window. Neither NASA nor Relativity Space disclosed the financial details of the contract.

The agreement reflects NASA’s continued reliance on public-private partnerships, where commercial companies contribute part of the development costs in exchange for opportunities to commercialize the technology beyond government missions. This approach allows NASA to stretch its exploration budget while encouraging innovation from the private sector.

However, the mission also comes with considerable risks. Relativity Space has yet to successfully place a rocket into orbit, making the company one of NASA’s more ambitious commercial partners. Previous collaborations with emerging aerospace companies have experienced setbacks, including bankruptcies and unsuccessful lunar landings.

Founded in 2015 by former SpaceX and Blue Origin engineers, Relativity Space aimed to revolutionize rocket manufacturing through large-scale 3D printing technology. Its first launch vehicle, Terran-1, flew in March 2023 but failed before reaching orbit. Rather than continuing with the smaller rocket, the company shifted its focus to the larger and more powerful Terran R launch vehicle.

The company’s future changed significantly last year when Eric Schmidt acquired a majority stake after fundraising challenges slowed development. Schmidt also became CEO, although he has revealed little about his long-term plans. Industry observers believe Relativity could eventually support projects beyond NASA missions, including satellite launches, lunar cargo transportation, and even launching the Lazuili space telescope, a project reportedly funded through Schmidt Sciences.

Schmidt’s move into the highly competitive launch industry surprised many analysts, given the enormous costs and crowded market. Still, ongoing demand for new launch providers—partly driven by delays affecting Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin—could create opportunities if Terran R successfully reaches orbit.

The NASA contract also sets the stage for an interesting rivalry with SpaceX. Schmidt and Elon Musk have frequently disagreed publicly on artificial intelligence safety, and now their companies may compete in deep space. Although Musk has long promoted his vision of sending humans to Mars, SpaceX has not yet launched a dedicated Mars mission.

If Relativity Space successfully launches Aeolus on schedule in 2028 and the spacecraft reaches Mars as planned, the company could become the first private space firm to deliver its own mission to the Red Planet, marking a significant milestone in commercial space exploration

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