Nine companies have been selected to conduct a total of 12 concept studies, with each one receiving funding ranging from $200,000 to $300,000. The purpose of these studies is to produce reports on various potential services that could be offered in space, such as payload delivery, communications relay, surface imaging, and payload hosting.
Eric Ianson, the director of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, expressed his excitement about the current phase of space exploration, highlighting the rapid growth of commercial interest and capabilities. He emphasized that this is an opportune moment for NASA to explore how public-private partnerships can support scientific endeavors on Mars in the future.
The study areas that will be focused on include the development of “space tugs” to transport other spacecraft to Mars, spacecraft designed to host science instruments and cameras, as well as telecommunication relays. Albedo Space Corporation, Astrobotic Technology, Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, Impulse Space, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Redwire Space, SpaceX
