NASA has awarded a Mars orbital mission to commercial space company Relativity Space. The company was acquired a controlling stake last year by former Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt. If the project proceeds as planned, Relativity may complete its first privately-owned Mars mission before SpaceX.

The mission is scheduled to launch in 2028.

The mission is codenamed Aeolus. NASA states that Relativity will be responsible for building the spacecraft carrying scientific instruments and sending it into space to Mars. NASA will handle the scientific payload, while commercial companies will provide the flight platform and launch capabilities.

Aeolus will carry four instruments to continuously observe atmospheric conditions from Mars orbit. NASA anticipates that this mission will provide, for the first time, daily global imagery data of Martian dust, wind patterns, and temperature. This data will support future landing missions and prepare conditions for subsequent manned landings.

The contract model continues the commercial cooperation approach.

The report points out that this contract structure is similar to NASA's past collaborations with SpaceX on cargo transport to the International Space Station and with Firefly Aerospace on lunar landers. NASA sets the scientific objectives, while companies undertake some of the development and execution work, thereby reducing the costs and risks borne solely by the government.

However, this model is not without uncertainty. Relativity currently lacks a proven flight track record, and whether the mission can launch on schedule remains to be seen. NASA has not disclosed the contract amount, and Relativity has not responded to related inquiries.

Relativity is still validating its carrying capacity.

Founded in 2015 by two former SpaceX and Blue Origin engineers, Relativity Space specializes in 3D-printed rocket manufacturing. The company's first rocket, Terran-1, made its maiden flight in March 2023, but failed during flight. The company subsequently shifted its focus to the larger Terran R rocket.

During the development of Terran R, Relativity faced financing pressures. In 2025, Schmidt acquired a majority stake in the company and became CEO. It is widely believed that he hopes to leverage Relativity to advance longer-term space projects, including orbital data centers and space telescope launches.

For Schmidt, this NASA contract is not just an order, but also a crucial opportunity to validate the commercial prospects of Terran R. If Aeolus launches as planned in 2028 and arrives at Mars, Relativity will have the opportunity to precede SpaceX, which has long emphasized its "Mars vision," in Mars missions.