Rocket Lab protests NASA Mars spacecraft award to Blue Origin
Rocket Lab filed a protest with the US Government Accountability Office after NASA selected Blue Origin for its Mars Telecommunications Network mission.
Protest filed against selection
The company submitted the complaint on Friday regarding the agency's decision made earlier this month. Rocket Lab stated that the award appears inconsistent with eligibility criteria mandated by Congress. The firm also claimed NASA made incorrect assertions during its technical review of their volume.
Blue Origin responds to claims
The selected contractor said the protest could potentially delay the mission goal of launching in 2028. Blue Origin expressed confidence in the strength of its proposal and NASA's rigorous selection process. The company noted that limited launch windows mean any delay risks timely deployment of critical communications capability.
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