NASA has selected Blue Origin to develop, launch, and operate a Mars Telecommunications Network spacecraft under a $700 million contract. The project stems from a 2025 congressional funding package intended to replace aging orbiters currently at Mars.
Rocket Lab has filed a formal protest with the US Government Accountability Office regarding the decision. The company claims NASA's review of its technical proposal was inconsistent and punitive, arguing that the selection violates eligibility criteria set by Congress.
The legislation, championed by Senator Ted Cruz and Senator Roger Wicker, mandated that bidders must have received funding for Mars Sample Return commercial design studies in 2024 or 2025. Other eligible companies included SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.
The bill also required bidders to have proposed an independent Mars telecommunication orbiter supporting an end-to-end sample return mission. Rocket Lab previously indicated to shareholders that it believed it was the only company meeting these specific requirements.
NASA has not yet released a source selection statement explaining the technical rationale for choosing Blue Origin's Blue Ring technology. Industry observers suggest the agency may have had concerns regarding Rocket Lab's ability to meet the late 2028 launch deadline.
This contract marks the first time NASA has utilized a fixed-price agreement for a company to build, launch, and operate a spacecraft around another planet. The award provides Blue Origin with a significant strategic advantage for future exploration missions.
