NASA is actively seeking commercial support for future missions to Mars, a departure from the traditional approach of relying solely on national space agencies. In line with this new direction, the agency has awarded a dozen research tasks to private companies, signaling its commitment to exploring collaboration opportunities with the private sector.
This move by NASA comes after the agency decided to reevaluate its original Mars Sample Return mission, favoring potential alternatives that could be spearheaded by private space companies. The goal is to leverage the expertise and capabilities of these companies to achieve more cost-effective and feasible missions to the Red Planet.
Nine companies have been selected to conduct “concept studies” on various Mars-related services. These studies cover a range of areas, including payload delivery, planetary imaging, and communications relays. While the financial awards for each study are relatively modest, between $200,000 and $300,000, they are crucial in helping NASA gain insights into the costs, risks, and viability of commercial technologies.
The chosen companies include Lockheed Martin, Impulse Space, and Firefly Aerospace for small payload delivery and hosting services. United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin, and Astrobotic have been selected for large payload delivery and hosting services. Albedo, Redwire Space, and Astrobotic will focus on Mars surface-imaging services. Finally, SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, and Blue Origin are tasked with developing next-generation relay series.
It is worth noting that most of the selected proposals build upon existing projects focused on the moon and Earth. By adapting these projects for Mars exploration, the companies can leverage their existing knowledge and technologies, potentially speeding up the development process.
The 12-week studies are set to conclude in August, and while there are no guarantees that they will result in future requests for proposals or contracts, it is unlikely that NASA would award contracts without prior studies having been conducted by interested companies. These studies serve as an important foundation for NASA to assess the capabilities and potential of each company.
The selection of these companies was based on a request for proposals issued by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory earlier this year. The aim is to establish a new paradigm for Mars exploration, one that emphasizes more frequent and cost-effective missions through partnerships between the government and industry.
This approach is reminiscent of NASA’s successful Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, which awards significant contracts to private companies for delivering payloads to the moon. By embracing earlier-stage startups and their unproven technologies, NASA has demonstrated its willingness to work with smaller companies, fostering innovation and growth in the space industry.
Overall, NASA’s decision to engage with the private sector for Mars missions signifies a forward-thinking strategy that capitalizes on the expertise and resources available outside traditional space agencies. This collaboration has the potential to revolutionize Mars exploration, paving the way for more ambitious missions and discoveries in the future.