Exploring Mars Together: Commercial Services Studies

Update May 1, 2024

NASA has selected 9 companies to conduct studies of commercial services at Mars for the study RFP. A summary of the awardees and further details can be found using the links below:

NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/solar-system/planets/mars/nasa-selects-commercial-service-studies-to-enable-mars-robotic-science/

JPL: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-selects-commercial-service-studies-to-enable-mars-robotic-science

Thank you to everyone who submitted proposals, as well as everyone that contributed ideas to this effort. As the Mars Exploration Program continues to explore the potential of commercial services, we look forward to continuing to work with you.

February 2, 2024: This update adds two files: (1) RFP in total except for Mission Design Handbook (47 pages), and (2) Exhibit V Reference Mars Mission Design Handbook (449 pages). With this update, the combined and separate files are now available to aid proposers. The separate files are identical in content to the combined file posted previously.

The Mars Exploration Program (MEP) Draft Plan through the next two decades would utilize more frequent lower cost missions to achieve compelling science and exploration for a larger community. To realize the goals of the MEP plan, government and U.S. industry would partner to leverage current and emerging Earth and lunar products and commercial services to substantially lower the overall cost and accelerate leadership in deep space exploration. This RFP for industry studies is a step along that path. NASA MEP intends, though has no obligation, to use the information from these resulting studies to inform one or more future service contracts. We welcome your proposal and look forward to engagement as we forge the future together.