NASA has awarded $1.5 million contracts to seven companies in an effort to improve its Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission. The space agency aims to collect and return samples from Mars, and it has turned to private industry for alternative mission designs or elements. The current plan for MSR involves multiple vehicles working in perfect synchronicity, including the Perseverance rover, a sample retrieval lander, a Mars Ascent Vehicle, and an Earth return orbiter.
Concerns have been raised about the complexity and high costs of the current mission design. Last year, an independent review board recommended that NASA revisit the design. In response, NASA is seeking a less complex design that will reduce costs and allow for an earlier return date.
The seven companies awarded contracts are Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Blue Origin, Quantum Space, Northrop Grumman, and Whittinghill Aerospace. Each company will further develop their proposals for the revamped mission. However, the titles of the proposals do not provide much information about their respective plans.
Lockheed Martin’s proposal focuses on rapid mission design studies for MSR, while SpaceX aims to enable MSR with its Starship vehicle. Aerojet Rocketdyne plans to use highly reliable and mature propulsion technologies for a high-performance liquid Mars Ascent Vehicle. Blue Origin aims to leverage its Artemis program for MSR, and Quantum Space proposes a Quantum Anchor Leg Mars Sample Return Study. Northrop Grumman will conduct high TRL MAV propulsion trades and concept design, while Whittinghill Aerospace will conduct a rapid design study for the MSR Single Stage Mars Ascent Vehicle.
NASA selected a total of ten studies, including two NASA centers, JPL and APL, after issuing a request for proposals in April. The agency hopes that these studies will help identify viable alternative mission designs or elements that can safely bring Martian samples back to Earth.
The companies will begin their work in July and complete their studies by October. This timeline shows the agency’s commitment to finding an improved mission design as quickly as possible. By involving private industry, NASA can tap into a wealth of ideas and expertise to enhance the MSR mission.
Overall, this initiative demonstrates NASA’s dedication to continuous improvement and its willingness to explore outside expertise for innovative solutions. The space industry’s involvement in improving the MSR mission highlights the collaborative nature of space exploration and the importance of leveraging different perspectives and capabilities to achieve ambitious goals.