Rocket Lab calls foul on Blue Origin's $700M Mars comms contract

Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, has lodged a formal protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) over NASA's decision to award it a contract worth up to approximately $700 million for the development of the Mars Telecommunications Orbiter (MTO). The contract, announced in early September, follows a request for proposals sent out in May.

The MTO will serve as a communications relay for missions to Mars, including serving as a communication link between spacecraft and the surface of the red planet.

Rocket Lab, another competitor in the space industry, has also expressed dissatisfaction with NASA's decision-making. In 2025, Rocket Lab's vice president for Business Development and Strategy, Richard French, criticized NASA for rejecting its Mars Sample Return proposal, which included a Mars communications orbiter. French emphasized the company's preference for open competition, stating that it is the best way to generate the most innovative ideas.

In the past, Blue Origin has also faced challenges in securing contracts from NASA. In 2021, the company lost out to SpaceX in the bid to develop the next lunar lander after submitting a proposal. Blue Origin responded by filing an official protest with the GAO, offering discounts, and even attempting to sue, but ultimately secured a separate contract for a $3.4 billion Artemis lunar lander in 2023.

The MTO design for the Mars mission is based on Blue Origin's Blue Ring spacecraft, which features a combination of hybrid solar-electric and chemical propulsion and 13 ports for mounting various payloads. Blue Origin has stated that it is ready to deliver the hardware for the MTO, highlighting the team's expertise in building spacecraft like the Blue Ring for similar missions.