NASA has awarded a contract to Relativity Space, a rocket company formerly led by Eric Schmidt, to develop and launch a spacecraft named Aeolus to Mars in 2028. This mission aims to provide NASA with the first daily, global atmospheric data of the Red Planet, enhancing safety for future landers and astronauts. The contract follows a model similar to previous NASA partnerships with SpaceX and Firefly Aerospace, where the agency funds the scientific instruments and the private company provides the launch infrastructure, aiming to reduce costs and development time. While this partnership offers potential significant rewards for Relativity, including commercial applications and a possible lead over SpaceX in Mars missions, it also carries substantial risk, as Relativity is an unproven entity.