![\"NASA](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/dsc00375-002.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/figure>NASA Wednesday announced a new public\u2011private partnership to advance Mars science by combining the agency\u2019s scientific leadership with commercial innovation. Under this model, NASA will provide the Aeolus atmospheric\u2011science instrument payload suite, while Relativity Space supplies the spacecraft, rocket, and cruise operations necessary to deliver the instruments to Mars.<\/p>\n
This partnership reflects NASA\u2019s growing commitment to approaches that accelerate discovery, expand mission cadence, and strengthen the foundation for future human exploration. By leveraging commercial investment and development capacity, NASA can focus resources on high\u2011value science while enabling more frequent opportunities to gather critical data about Mars, data essential to safely navigating the Martian atmosphere and ultimately landing humans on the surface.<\/p>\n
\u201cPublic-private partnerships like this are a force multiplier for science,\u201d said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. \u201cBy pairing NASA\u2019s world\u2011class instruments with commercial innovation and investment, we can deliver more science, more often, and reduce the time it takes to get essential data into the hands of researchers preparing for future human missions to Mars.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aeolus, scheduled to launch in 2028, is a NASA\u2011developed suite of four complementary instruments designed to provide the first integrated, daily, global view of Martian winds, temperatures, dust, and clouds. By improving models for dust, winds, temperature, and seasonal atmospheric behavior, Aeolus will generate the detailed environmental knowledge required to reduce risk for future crewed and uncrewed landings. These measurements will directly inform entry, descent, and landing systems and support safer, more predictable mission planning for astronauts.<\/p>\n
Aeolus builds on more than two decades of NASA missions that have studied the Martian atmosphere, including orbiters such as MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution), the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and Mars Odyssey, while taking the foundation laid by earlier missions even further, continuing NASA\u2019s tradition of expanding the frontiers of Mars science. Researchers at NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center in California\u2019s Silicon Valley will design, build, and integrate the payload, while Relativity Space will manage spacecraft development and mission operations.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs NASA\u2019s Innovation Center of Excellence, Ames is committed to delivering the technologies, capabilities, and creative partnerships that enable the agency\u2019s boldest missions,\u201d said Dr. Eugene Tu, center director, NASA Ames. \u201cAeolus reflects how innovative collaboration accelerates science and strengthens the foundation needed for one day landing humans on Mars.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Aeolus payload suite includes four NASA\u2011built instruments:<\/p>\n
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- Doppler Wind and Temperature Sounder (DWTS\u2011Ozone): Measures wind and temperature profiles from the surface up to approximately 37 miles (60 km). A collaboration with GATS.<\/li>\n
- Thermal Limb Sounder (TLS): Provides vertical temperature profiles and observations of dust and water\u2011ice clouds. A collaboration with Xiomas Technologies.<\/li>\n
- Surface Radiometric Sensor Package (SuRSeP): Measures surface energy balance, dust, and cloud properties.<\/li>\n
- Wide\u2011Field Context Camera (WFCC): Captures daily global images of atmospheric activity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
NASA will support operations of science instruments for at least one Martian year, while Relativity Space maintains the spacecraft. As part of the agreement, NASA will develop the data\u2011processing pipeline needed to transform raw measurements into high\u2011quality, ready\u2011to\u2011use data products for broad scientific use.<\/p>\n
This effort is supported under NASA\u2019s first six\u2011year reimbursable Space Act Agreement, providing a stable framework for sustained collaboration, predictable development, and mission continuity.<\/p>\n
Learn more about Mars science at:<\/p>\n
https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mars<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
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Camille Gallo \/ Cheryl Warner
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
camille.m.gallo@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\nJeanne Neal
Ames Research Center, Silicon Valley
650-604-4789
jeanne.c.neal@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n \n\n\n\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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