Relativity Space, led by former Google executive Eric Schmidt, has been selected to launch NASA’s Aeolus payload to Mars in 2028 under a new public-private partnership, aiming to deliver the first integrated, daily, global view of Martian winds, temperatures,
A 2028 trip to Mars just got a new launch provider—and the stakes are written into what Aeolus will do once it arrives.
NASA has selected Relativity Space. the rocket company led by former Google executive Eric Schmidt. to launch the Aeolus payload to Mars in 2028. The plan sits under a public-private partnership in which Relativity Space will provide the “spacecraft. rocket. and cruise operations” needed to fly Aeolus to the Red Planet.
Aeolus isn’t being built for vague curiosity. NASA says the payload will deliver the first integrated, daily, global view of Martian winds, temperatures, dust, and clouds. That constant. planet-wide picture matters for more than science dashboards—it’s meant to tighten how missions survive Mars’ tricky atmosphere.
The payload will carry four instruments to study the Martian atmosphere. NASA says the data from Aeolus will “directly inform entry, descent, and landing systems” and will support “safer, more predictable mission planning for astronauts.”
For Relativity Space, the selection lands at a moment shaped by both ambition and hard lessons. Schmidt—who served as CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011—became Relativity Space’s CEO in 2025. a couple of years after the company launched Terran 1. which NASA’s update points to as “the world’s first 3D-printed rocket.” Terran 1 failed shortly after launch.
Relativity Space has been working on its next step, too. Its larger Terran R rocket isn’t scheduled to have its first launch until later this year. With Aeolus set for 2028. the company’s progress between now and launch will be watched closely—not just for performance. but for how well it can translate new rocket capability into the kind of operational reliability NASA says astronauts will need.
NASA Relativity Space Eric Schmidt Aeolus Mars mission 3D-printed rocket Terran 1 Terran R public-private partnership spacecraft rocket cruise operations Martian winds
Mars winds daily view sounds cool but why 2028 like they couldn’t do it sooner?
So they picked Relativity Space because Eric Schmidt used to be at Google, right? I’m not saying that’s bad but it feels like the tech world is taking over space launches now. Also didn’t that 3D printed one (Terran 1) blow up? Like… are we learning or just trying again.
Wait, I thought Aeolus was already like on Mars or something? The article says “once it arrives” so I’m confused. If it’s about winds and dust and clouds, how does that even help astronauts land? Sounds like science for computers not people, but maybe I’m missing the point.
Public-private partnership always makes me nervous. Relativity Space is building the spacecraft AND the rocket AND the cruise operations like it’s all in-house… that’s a lot riding on them, especially after Terran 1 failed. NASA says it’ll make landing systems safer, but landing is already hard and Mars is basically out to ruin everyone’s day. I’ll believe it when they do a successful launch of Terran R first, honestly.