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

The selection of Relativity Space—now under the leadership of Eric Schmidt’s investment umbrella—for a NASA Mars mission underscores a quiet but profound shift in the space industry: the rise of second-tier players capable of challenging even SpaceX’s dominance. While Elon Musk’s company has long been synonymous with Mars ambitions, Relativity’s inclusion signals NASA’s willingness to diversify its partnerships, potentially accelerating timelines and reducing costs through competition. This isn’t just a corporate rivalry; it’s a test case for whether private firms outside the traditional aerospace giants can deliver on deep-space missions. Schmidt’s involvement adds another layer, given his track record of backing transformative technologies, though Relativity’s past struggles—including a failed orbital launch in 2023—highlight the risks of betting on unproven players. The broader significance lies in the mission’s timing. NASA’s Artemis program is already reshaping lunar exploration, and a successful Mars mission by a non-SpaceX entity could redefine the agency’s approach to interplanetary travel, moving away from sole-source contracts toward a more modular, competitive model. It also reflects the maturation of additive manufacturing (3D printing) in rocketry, a core Relativity competency, which could democratize access to space hardware. Yet questions linger about feasibility. Mars missions demand precision landing, long-duration life support, and radiation shielding—areas where Relativity has yet to demonstrate mastery. The company’s Terran R rocket, still in development, must prove it can outperform SpaceX’s Starship, which has its own delays but benefits from years of iterative testing. What happens next will hinge on NASA’s contract terms and Relativity’s execution. If the mission proceeds, it could validate a new era of cost-competitive, innovation-driven space exploration. If it falters, the episode may reinforce SpaceX’s near-monopoly on high-stakes planetary missions. Either way, the decision reflects a broader trend: the erosion of legacy barriers in space, where agility and novel technologies increasingly outweigh institutional pedigree. The race to Mars is no longer a two-horse show.