NASA selects Eric Schmidt’s rocket company for a 2028 mission to Mars

NASA selected Relativity Space to launch its Aeolus payload to Mars in 2028, marking a significant public-private partnership for interplanetary exploration. Relativity Space, co-founded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, will be responsible for providing the spacecraft, rocket, and cruise operations for the mission. The Aeolus payload aims to study the Martian atmosphere, specifically focusing on its composition and dynamics, which is crucial for understanding planetary evolution and the potential for future human missions. This selection underscores NASA's strategy to leverage commercial space capabilities for its ambitious scientific objectives. Relativity Space's involvement highlights the growing role of private companies in deep space missions, a trend that could accelerate space exploration by reducing costs and increasing launch frequency. The company's innovative approach to rocket manufacturing, utilizing 3D printing for its Terran R rocket, is expected to be a key factor in its ability to fulfill NASA's requirements for this complex mission. The successful deployment of Aeolus would represent a major scientific advancement in our understanding of Mars.