Rocket Lab protests NASA's decision to award Blue Origin $700 million Mars orbiter contract
Rocket Lab has filed a formal protest with the GAO against NASA's decision to award a $700 million Mars Telecommunications Network contract to Blue Origin. Rocket Lab claims the decision violated congressional eligibility criteria and involved a flawed technical review.
Why it matters
The protest challenges the procurement process for high-stakes government space contracts, potentially delaying critical infrastructure projects.
Missions Rocket Lab protests NASA's decision to award Blue Origin $700 million Mars orbiter contract News By Mike Wall Published 11 September 2026 "NASA's award decision appears to be inconsistent with the eligibility criteria mandated by Congress."
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Click for next article Artist's illustration of the spacecraft that Rocket Lab proposed for NASA's $700 million Mars Telecommunications Network mission, (Image credit: Rocket Lab) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Rocket Lab still holds out hope that it can build NASA's next Mars orbiter.
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