LOS ANGELES, June 19 — In a significant development for space exploration, Relativity Space, a rocket company led by former Google executive Eric Schmidt, has been selected by NASA to launch the Aeolus payload to Mars in 2028. This mission is a big deal, here’s what it means: the Aeolus payload will provide the first integrated, daily, global view of Martian winds, temperatures, dust, and clouds, which will directly inform entry, descent, and landing systems and support safer, more predictable mission planning for astronauts.
Think of it like having a detailed weather forecast for Mars, which is essential for planning and executing missions to the planet. The Aeolus payload will have four instruments on board for studying the Martian atmosphere.
This is a crucial step in understanding the Martian environment, and the data collected will be invaluable for future missions. Relativity Space will provide the “spacecraft, rocket, and cruise operations” to fly Aeolus to Mars under a new public-private partnership. The company’s larger Terran R rocket isn’t scheduled to have its first launch until later this year, but this partnership with NASA is a significant milestone for the company.
Eric Schmidt, who served as CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011, became Relativity Space’s CEO in 2025, and this mission is a testament to the company’s capabilities and ambitions. The practical upshot of this mission is that it will provide critical data for future Mars missions, making them safer and more predictable.
This is a significant step forward for space exploration, and the partnership between Relativity Space and NASA is a great example of how public-private partnerships can drive innovation and progress. So what’s next? We can expect to see more developments from Relativity Space and NASA as they work towards the 2028 launch date.
The success of this mission will depend on the ability of Relativity Space to deliver on its promises, and the company’s track record will be closely watched. As we look to the future of space exploration, this mission is an exciting reminder of what is now possible, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store.
