Eric Schmidt's aircraft lands at Van Nuys the week NASA picks Relativity Space for Mars

Eric Schmidt's aircraft, a Gulfstream G650ER registered to a Bank of Utah Trustee, was tracked on June 30, 2026, flying from Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (KRHV) to Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) in a 45-minute hop, reaching 29,000 feet and a top speed of 519 knots.

If Eric Schmidt was aboard, the timing would align neatly with a major development this week: on June 17, NASA selected Schmidt's Relativity Space to build and fly the Aeolus Mars orbiter, aiming for a 2028 launch, per TechCrunch's reporting [techcrunch.com](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/17/nasa-picks-eric-schmidts-rocket-company-for-mars-mission-setting-up-a-race-with-spacex/). Relativity Space's Terran R rocket is expected to debut later this year from its Southern California facilities, and Van Nuys is a convenient gateway to the company's operations in Long Beach and the Mojave region.

The short hop from the San Jose area—near Schmidt's former Google stomping grounds and reported distributed base—to Van Nuys follows a pattern of frequent Southern California movements, including multiple flights to Van Nuys in recent weeks tracked by Celebplanes, consistent with tending to his rocket venture as it accelerates toward a Mars deadline.