Schmidt's Rocket Company Will Launch NASA Mars Mission in 2028
NASA just picked a tech entrepreneur's rocket company to send critical weather instruments to Mars, marking a major step toward safer human missions to the red planet. The partnership combines private innovation with NASA's deep space expertise.
Relativity Space, led by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, will launch NASA's Aeolus payload to Mars in 2028, marking an exciting new chapter in public-private space exploration.
The mission will send four specialized instruments to study Martian winds, temperatures, dust, and clouds from orbit. For the first time ever, scientists will get daily, integrated views of Mars' entire atmosphere.
This isn't just about collecting cool data from another planet. The atmospheric information will directly help engineers design better landing systems and plan safer missions for future astronauts exploring Mars.
Relativity Space will handle everything: building the spacecraft, providing the rocket, and managing the cruise operations to get Aeolus safely to Mars. It's a big vote of confidence from NASA in a company that's still proving itself.
Schmidt took the helm as CEO in 2025, bringing his tech leadership experience to the aerospace world. He led Google through its explosive growth years from 2001 to 2011, and now he's applying that vision to space exploration.
The company made headlines in 2023 by launching Terran 1, the world's first 3D-printed rocket, though that test flight encountered problems shortly after liftoff. Their larger Terran R rocket is scheduled for its first launch later this year, a crucial step before the Mars mission.
The Ripple Effect
This partnership shows how space exploration is evolving beyond government-only missions. Private companies are stepping up with innovative manufacturing techniques like 3D printing, potentially making space access faster and more affordable.
The atmospheric data Aeolus gathers won't just benefit NASA. Scientists worldwide will use it to better understand how Mars' climate works, information that's essential for any plans to eventually send humans to live and work on the red planet.
Every successful public-private space partnership opens doors for more ambitious missions. When companies like Relativity Space prove they can handle complex deep space operations, it frees NASA to focus on even bigger challenges while spreading opportunities across the aerospace industry.
Mars is waiting, and this mission brings us one step closer to safely getting there.
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Based on reporting by The Verge
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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