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Space Policy Edition: Mars Sample Return, but at what (fixed) price?

Space Policy Edition: Mars Sample Return, but at what (fixed) price?

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

February 7, 20251h 20m

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Show Notes

Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck joins the show to unpack his company’s bold, $4-billion fixed-price plan to bring Martian samples home, why he believes commercial partnerships can unlock new frontiers in planetary science, and his “soft spot” for interplanetary exploration. Then, Richard French — former JPL engineer and now VP of Business & Strategy at Rocket Lab — provides deeper insight into their proposed Mars Sample Return architecture, explaining how a single, vertically integrated team could cut costs and secure mission success. And yes, we get an update on the status of their Venus mission, too.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/can-rocketlab-save-msr

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Topics

spacesciencetechnologyengineeringastronomyplanetaryNASACLPSDecadal SurveySMDPSDrocketRocket LabCommercial Space