Rocket Lab, a space launch company, has been awarded a USD 625,000 contract from NASA to study alternative concepts for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission.

Rocket Lab's proposal aims to deliver a simplified, end-to-end mission concept for MSR at a fraction of the current projected costs (estimated up to USD 11 billion) several years earlier than 2040. Its concept involves using its Neutron rocket in development, targeting a total cost to NASA of less than USD 2 billion and potentially returning samples as early as September 2031.

This contract is part of NASA's broader effort to improve the cost and schedule of the MSR program, with seven other companies also selected in June 2024 for similar studies. The studies are expected to be completed in the fall of 2024, with NASA using the results to determine how to modify the current MSR architecture.

Analyst QuickTake: Rocket Lab was also selected by NASA in August 2023 for the launch of two Earth science cubesats. The launch took place in May 2024 aboard the Electron rocket, as a part of NASA's Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment (PREFIRE) mission.