NASA Taps Eric Schmidt's Relativity Space for 2028 Mars Mission

NASA Taps Eric Schmidt's Relativity Space for 2028 Mars Mission">

Relativity Space, the rocket company led by former Google executive Eric Schmidt, was picked to launch NASA's Aeolus payload to Mars in 2028, as reported earlier by TechCrunch. Under a new public-private partnership, Relativity Space will provide the "spacecraft, rocket, and cruise operations" to fly Aeolus to Mars, where the payload will "provide the first integrated, daily, global view of Martian winds, temperatures, dust, and clouds." The Aeolus payload will have four instruments on board for studying the Martian atmosphere, which NASA says will "directly inform entry, descent, and landing systems and support safer, more predictable missions to Mars in the future." Relativity Space's selection marks a significant step forward in the development of commercial spaceflight capabilities. The company is working on an advanced 3D-printed rocket, Terran R, which is expected to play a key role in future missions.

The partnership between NASA and Relativity Space demonstrates the growing importance of private companies in space exploration. As NASA continues to push the boundaries of space travel and research, collaborations like this one will be crucial in achieving its goals. Why this matters: The selection of Relativity Space for the Aeolus mission highlights the increasing reliance on private companies to support NASA's ambitious space exploration goals.

For developers and businesses, this partnership demonstrates the growing opportunities for commercial involvement in spaceflight. The success of this mission will also have implications for future Mars exploration, as the data collected by Aeolus will inform the development of safer and more efficient landing systems. However, questions remain about the long-term sustainability of public-private partnerships in space exploration and the potential risks and benefits for companies involved.