# NASA picks Eric Schmidt’s rocket company for Mars mission, setting up a race with SpaceX

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-06-18 08:07 UTC · Category: Science

## Executive Summary
NASA has selected Relativity Space, backed by Eric Schmidt, to develop a Mars orbiter mission, establishing a new public-private partnership.

## Intelligence Brief
NASA announced a partnership with Relativity Space to develop a mission aimed at Mars exploration. The project includes the development of a spacecraft, identified in coverage as Aeolus, intended for orbital operations around the planet.


Coverage from Zamin.uz, mezha.net, SpaceNews, NASA, and TechCrunch highlights the shift toward privately developed Mars hardware. Reports characterize the selection as a development that introduces competition with SpaceX in the sector of Mars-bound aerospace initiatives.


Future updates will track the timeline for the development of the Aeolus spacecraft. Coverage does not yet specify the launch schedule or the full technical parameters of the partnership agreement.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Space | A private company will build and launch NASA's next Mars orbiter in 2028 — and it's not SpaceX | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1gFBVV95cUxOVm9xYWVlcXMxQUx4S2dqdDQwVzRELVcxOE1OM3Y4NzZyRzZzRTluWkROTXRPQzgtZXFxWVM3NkZPY3VfRndBYTFPVWNzc1ZOTVNZOVpndnhUdzBvRmdBZmxsSjVLeXI1cjNHWHhxR19CdzVMXzhOaWVGcFFVUHFIa2lZVTg1RDQ1akNLWFp3ZEZHMGtTUGNvb2Fwbjk2NTFLajdZOG9zRjU3THhIR2NLUklrTzBkRGlGVElyWjJ2VF9lRnZiZWM0Wi0taE5TTlMxR19ROXNR?oc=5) |
| Scientific American | Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s Relativity Space selected for upcoming NASA Mars orbiter mission | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0gFBVV95cUxQREpWNkQycS1tRS1wMTl5VkItVzdRZHg2X2hPc1ZxYUxhLXRLUUt1Z2V0SHdCUHRxNjFiakVXY3U5WVp0aXgzdHJ2MW5Ba2lPWmU5ZHpNaFZCUWVfUVd5VzJLcm5PajhKWmd4RVMyeDg3UzE1ejRJRmhMVzZPcUxGai12ME9RT0NaMVA3cnozU3hPdzhXYnNuUHhfWEdqejVRdDB2TmpfVzV0WkdMb3hfaUxwaWxKMzJOOUppLTZ2ajJHY3hOY0xSX3FwcFczMkc4d1E?oc=5) |
| Space Daily | In June 2026, Relativity Space — the rocket company Eric Schmidt took over in 2025, whose one rocket has never reached orbit — said it would privately build and fly a Mars orbiter in 2028, carrying NASA's Aeolus atmospheric instruments and doubling as a c | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgJBVV95cUxQRHd1WFpOU0hBZEtTQ3VYTl9pVjEwRW9teVJWZU1BNjVyOUw2QjI1YU05ZzQwWGZ1Z2pPV0l3ZnBkcjBkVVcwRWZGdjV6OHRPWHZzVGpsdFFreVdqRTJSVVpFVWFVQ1FGakpKZ0hoem5ydW1FN1IxYmc3a0tDZ2FJM1AyaHVUMk1KR2dVZHRTbjRwTTVjOElSVG1fUXF5c2gyc0lFd3E1U2w5ZmZvYlJLcmZBYU56WmFQZGV2bHhWVU55ZWxTWVFSUF9oUEh5UV9MaGFiTVpiVmRtQWdTN2NHbnNRay1oZVNqQVBZWXEwS1JYS1dLLU1MYldwLW9VYXpPU2tLTTNIclVGSUJHc2V0TDFZYmZYWEd4M3RBWXFoOEpONFY1QkpiZVJn?oc=5) |
| Crypto Briefing | Relativity Space eyes Mars mission under Eric Schmidt's leadership, competing with SpaceX | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMickFVX3lxTFBJejNiOTJkRURDRFhYbnhtcmEtVThxMGFMQkwxbnZtNzZQVkZFZTZLT280YVdTaUZqd2JVVTVGcXNvbVdGbFNtLWR1TmxNWG1PUGJxTFl6T3M2VEYzVHk2R3RiWlJUYkg2eEp0Ny1lZFZHUQ?oc=5) |
| Zamin.uz | NASA Selects Eric Schmidt's Relativity Space for Mars Exploration | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirAFBVV95cUxOa0EyaUtaWE5qLUxlWUFndnNaaWxjMUI2cm50c2l5UXpOTTJWZHFHZkJBaXE4YWZ6OXk3TVFKMWdVYUZZNGQwUWp6UGdoWVFQWXV0SUpNOWFEMkljdHJLdTd6by1NUUpqVVVIaVEwV21PTHhoaVM1NlE5TUFFWVFXYzRRUGtuU1JGUnVjcGcxZGhXYm1RRVRCbElQV19OcW95OFNyTVNGVjZTSnNs?oc=5) |
| mezha.net | Relativity Space wins NASA contract and aims to send Aeolus to Mars | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMia0FVX3lxTE1sZUhqZzdQLTVDZEUtcnRhUWFSdTJlNlpTbE96MWhfeXA1SnBCbHhfZ1BGNXJFOTBtOW1Qdk84WU5UQ3d3WThfSENITl95ZGUyNmRUMlNEd2RNSTQtU0JVeFJXdXJLaVF4WkVz?oc=5) |
| SpaceNews | Relativity Space to privately develop Mars orbiter mission | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxOT080RW9naUFDWUQ3X0thLU1hc2RicV9HUFZfZmlrN2JjZkhxYVJWNEpwSVpTRW5mbXpHUWotTXFtLW9RcWdFS3FkSTc3NFhfZ1R6d3dRajk4N1ZBbXdaNDN6TjE5a0tKVHgxd05RX3dhQ0JveEJacUc4eDg0UWIwUmhiMGJsdTJf?oc=5) |
| NASA (.gov) | NASA Announces Public-Private Partnership to Advance Mars Science | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxQOVFvNHpLWmg4Nk8ya3NpMWRCVlExX2dGV2VHcW81eVJZMzNnS3hxRnNaMUpHejZFa2ZvMVExeGQxem9BRHVfM3NuZ0NVZDJSQzJ6ZEpCeS1ZTEZnNFNTMFFJbTBEVWY4SW9QN2dFSUFpWnhmNENsalVsNElWYS11RW1EckZwMlZCSjlWRzRoOTNyWHFkb1VjdkRSLTI2Z2FINFE?oc=5) |
| TechCrunch | NASA picks Eric Schmidt’s rocket company for Mars mission, setting up a race with SpaceX | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivgFBVV95cUxOOWd6QkJ2ZWF0Um12SUxHZHRVUGl4MTBtNWhDTmhmSzg2VVlKenNtUUlrczhlVUpSZmV1Ty1GQm5xLXhtNmJHVS1RTHItQ09MRkNydlRtX0tfRURWVWZVZ1FlMWxsdm1kU2xZV0hpUUJobi1JNXEtRWo2dHV0RkppekZiQUh5U2V4TGNnM1M4czdRcDAtSjFibDRzODJ1RTQzVFZqOUFNYXNsRmZrT0xiTmhqbkFfZjJfTkRZX2FB?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-06-18/nasa-picks-eric-schmidt-s-rocket-company-for-mars-mission-setting-up-a-race*