Rocket Lab is urging the incoming administration to reconsider NASA’s plans for Mars Sample Return (MSR), proposing a faster and less expensive alternative. NASA announced on January 7th that it would spend the next year and a half studying two new architectures for MSR. One involves a “sky crane” landing system; the other utilizes a commercially developed “heavy lander.”
This decision followed the review of a dozen studies commissioned in mid-2024. Rocket Lab, whose study was awarded later than others, proposed a new end-to-end system utilizing its technologies in launch vehicles, spacecraft, and other systems. This approach, similar to earlier NASA architectures, involves a sample retrieval lander, Mars ascent vehicle, and Earth return orbiter.
Rocket Lab argues its approach is significantly faster and cheaper. NASA estimates its chosen architectures will cost between $5.8 billion and $7.7 billion, returning samples between 2035 and 2039. This is an improvement over previous estimates of up to $11 billion and a 2040 return.
“We think we’re the organization that can bring these Mars samples home faster and cheaper,” said Richard French, vice president of business development and strategy for space systems at Rocket Lab. “Our architecture, as proposed to NASA, was to bring samples back for less than $4 billion and as early as 2031.”
French highlighted Rocket Lab's leveraging of its capabilities, including the Neutron launch vehicle and collaborations like Varda Space Industries. He expressed frustration with NASA's minimal feedback on their proposal and advocates for a commercial competition for the MSR program.
“If NASA wants to show leadership, it’s to lean into commercial capability and be bold and compete,” French argued. He suggests initial studies with multiple commercial providers would be more affordable and promote innovation.
The Planetary Society also expressed concern over NASA's continued studies, urging the new administration to expedite a decision. French echoed this sentiment, stating, “This is not a problem that needs a lot more study by the agency. We want to proceed right now into early design phases.”