Relativity Space, the 3D-printing-focused rocket company that nearly flamed out on its path to orbit, is now positioning itself as a credible challenger to SpaceX in the race to Mars. Under new leadership from former Google executive chair Eric Schmidt, the company is pursuing what could become the first commercially driven Mars lander mission, partnering with Impulse Space to get there.
From near-collapse to Mars ambitions
Schmidt took a controlling stake in Relativity Space in March 2025 and assumed the dual role of Executive Chairman and CEO. His vision goes beyond just launching rockets. He’s steering the company toward building large-scale space infrastructure, including orbital data centers.
Relativity’s partnership with Impulse Space, established in July 2022, laid the groundwork for what the companies described as the first private Mars lander mission. The plan calls for using Relativity’s Terran R rocket, a reusable vehicle the company has been developing as its flagship orbital launch platform.
The original target was a launch no earlier than 2024. That timeline has slipped, with expectations now pushed into the mid-2020s.
