NASA is ushering in a new era of Mars exploration, one that leverages the capabilities and ingenuity of commercial partners to drive scientific discovery and pave the way for future human missions to the Red Planet. Through its Mars Exploration Program, the space agency is engaging with industry to develop innovative and cost-effective solutions for exploring Mars, with the goal of sending more frequent, lower-cost missions to the planet’s surface and orbit.
A Shift in Strategy
In recent years, NASA has recognized the potential for public-private partnerships to revolutionize space exploration. By tapping into the expertise and resources of the private sector, the agency can accelerate the pace of discovery while reducing costs and risks. This approach has already proven successful with initiatives like the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, which has sent NASA science equipment to the moon on private landers.
Now, NASA is applying a similar model to its Mars exploration efforts. The agency’s draft Mars Exploration Program (MEP) 2024-2044 Plan outlines a new paradigm for missions to Mars, one that emphasizes lower cost, high-frequency missions with the potential to advance high-priority science objectives. Central to this strategy is partnerships with U.S. industry.
Engaging with Industry
To kick off this new era of collaboration, NASA has initiated a series of activities to engage with industry and better understand the capabilities and needs of both the agency and commercial partners. In January 2024, NASA issued its first call for proposals under the “Mars Exploration Commercial Services” program, seeking concepts that could enhance the agency’s Mars science missions in the coming decades.
Nine companies were selected to develop proposals across four key areas:
- Delivery of small spacecraft or hosted payloads to Mars orbit
- Delivery of large spacecraft or hosted payloads to Mars orbit
- Mars imaging services
- Mars communication relay services
Each company will receive between $200,000 and $300,000 for 12-week concept studies, which will conclude in August 2024. These studies are intended to inform future requests for proposals and help shape NASA’s overall Mars exploration strategy.
Diverse Range of Concepts
The selected companies bring a wealth of expertise and innovative ideas to the table. For the delivery of small spacecraft or hosted payloads, Firefly Aerospace, Impulse Space, and Lockheed Martin have proposed modifying existing lunar spacecraft or space tugs for use at Mars.
In the category of large spacecraft or payload delivery, Astrobotic, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance are exploring concepts ranging from modified lunar landers to adapted upper stages and the Blue Ring spacecraft platform.
Imaging services are another key focus area, with Albedo Space, Astrobotic, and Redwire proposing solutions based on high-resolution Earth imaging spacecraft, lunar landers equipped with imaging payloads, and modified commercial Earth imaging satellites.
Finally, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, and SpaceX are studying communication relay systems for Mars, leveraging platforms like Blue Ring, modified Mars orbiters, and Earth orbit communications satellites.
Building on Past Success
NASA’s push for commercial partnerships in Mars exploration builds on the success of previous initiatives like the CLPS program. Through CLPS, NASA has already sent science equipment to the moon on two private landers, demonstrating the viability of this approach for advancing scientific discovery.
The Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C spacecraft, named Odysseus, successfully landed on the lunar surface in February 2023, marking a significant milestone for commercial space exploration. Although the Astrobotic Peregrine lander experienced an anomaly and did not reach the moon as planned, the overall success of the CLPS program has validated the potential for public-private partnerships in space exploration.
Preserving Critical Capabilities
As NASA looks to the future of Mars exploration, there is a growing recognition of the need to preserve and enhance critical capabilities, such as high-resolution imaging and data relay from the planet’s surface. Many of the agency’s existing assets, like the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and its HiRISE camera, have been in operation for nearly two decades and are approaching the end of their lifespan.
Commercial services offer a promising solution for maintaining and expanding these vital capabilities. By partnering with industry to develop new imaging and communication systems, NASA can ensure continuity of scientific data and support future missions to the Martian surface.
Paving the Way for Human Exploration
While the immediate focus of NASA’s Mars commercial program is on robotic missions and scientific discovery, the ultimate goal is to lay the groundwork for human exploration of the Red Planet. By fostering the development of new technologies and capabilities through partnerships with industry, NASA is taking important steps toward making human missions to Mars a reality.
Commercial services like imaging, communication relays, and payload delivery will be essential for supporting future human missions, providing the infrastructure and resources needed to sustain a human presence on Mars. By investing in these capabilities now, NASA is positioning itself for success in the decades to come.
A New Chapter in Mars Exploration
NASA’s Mars commercial program represents a new chapter in the exploration of the Red Planet, one that harnesses the power of public-private partnerships to drive scientific discovery and technological innovation. By engaging with industry and leveraging the expertise and resources of commercial partners, NASA is poised to accelerate the pace of Mars exploration and unlock new opportunities for scientific breakthroughs.
As the concept studies from the nine selected companies unfold over the coming months, the space community will eagerly await the insights and ideas that emerge. These studies will help shape the future of Mars exploration, informing NASA’s strategy and paving the way for a new era of discovery and achievement.
With the Mars commercial program, NASA is not only advancing our understanding of the Red Planet but also demonstrating the immense potential of collaboration between the public and private sectors in space exploration. As we look to the future, it is clear that partnerships like these will be essential for pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and expanding our presence in the solar system.
