NASA picks Eric Schmidt’s rocket company for Mars mission, setting up a race with SpaceX
NASA has awarded a contract to Relativity Space to launch the Aeolus mission to Mars in 2028. The mission aims to provide daily global data on Martian weather, utilizing a public-private partnership model similar to those used for SpaceX.
Why it matters
This contract signals a shift in NASA's strategy to utilize emerging commercial space companies to reduce costs and accelerate the timeline for scientific exploration of Mars.
Relativity Space—a rocket maker acquired by former Google executive chair Eric Schmidt last year after stumbling on the path to orbit—might just beat SpaceX to Mars.
The article provides a balanced overview of a government contract and its strategic implications for the space industry.
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