NASA picks Eric Schmidt's rocket company for Mars mission, setting up a race with SpaceX

NASA said Tuesday that it hired Relativity Space to build a spacecraft to house scientific instruments, launch it and fly it to Mars. The mission is called Aeolus. The contract follows a model used in prior NASA partnerships with private firms in which the agency manages the science and the company supplies infrastructure. Aeolus will carry four instruments to measure and image the planet from orbit. NASA expects the data to deliver the first daily global view of dust, wind and temperature in the atmosphere. The agency said the information will support safer landings and future human missions. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement that pairing the agency's instruments with commercial work allows more science to be delivered more often. The mission is set for launch in 2028. Relativity must design and build the spacecraft while completing its Terran R rocket on the same schedule. Relativity Space was founded in 2015 by two engineers from SpaceX and Blue Origin. The company focused on 3D printing to lower rocket costs. Its first rocket, Terran 1, launched in March 2023 and failed during flight. The firm later shifted to the larger Terran R design. Former Google executive chair Eric Schmidt acquired a majority stake in Relativity last year and became chief executive. NASA did not disclose the contract value. Relativity did not respond to questions about the award. The company is unproven in orbital flight. Past NASA startup partners have faced bankruptcy or landing failures. The deal could open commercial work for Relativity in satellite launches and lunar cargo. If Aeolus reaches Mars on schedule, it would be the first private mission to the planet.