Rocket Lab has formally challenged NASA's decision to award a $700 million contract for the Mars Telecommunications Network to Blue Origin. The company filed a protest with the U.S. Government Accountability Office, requesting a review of the contractor selection process.
The project involves developing a single orbital relay satellite to replace aging infrastructure, including the Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Rocket Lab claims NASA deviated from Congressional criteria and made errors during the technical evaluation of its proposal.
Congress allocated $700 million for the new relay in July 2025, with NASA requesting industry proposals in the spring of 2026. Under the current contract, Blue Origin is required to deliver the spacecraft by December 31, 2028, for a 2030 operational launch.
This situation mirrors a 2021 case where Blue Origin unsuccessfully challenged SpaceX over a lunar lander contract. While the GAO reviews the current protest, the contract remains with Blue Origin, pending a final decision from the oversight body.
