Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Who got paid, how much, for what, and whether it is defensible. Citizen opinion on the record, not a mandate.
Status and record
M2020 MARS SCIENCE ROVER PROJECT-PHASE A-D 60-19107 THE CONTRACT IS THE SPONSORING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION NASA AND THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY-CONTRACTOR, A PRIVATE NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, WHICH ESTABLISHES THE RELATIONSHIP FOR THE OPERATION OF THE FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER-FFRDC KNOWN AS THE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY. THE CONTRACTOR, JPL, IS REQUIRED TO PERFORM WORK THAT IS DESIGNATED IN TASK ORDERS ISSUED BY THE NASA MANAGEMENT OFFICE-NMO CONTRACTING OFFICERS. NASA-SPONSORED WORK: JPLS PRIMARY MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THE NASA SCIENCE MISSION DIRECTORATE-SMD IN CARRYING OUT THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES IDENTIFIED IN THE SMD SCIENCE PLAN. THE FOUR BROAD SCIENTIFIC AREAS ARE: EARTH SCIENCE, PLANETARY SCIENCE, HELIOPHYSICS, AND ASTROPHYSICS. IN PERFORMANCE OF THIS CONTRACT, JPL SHALL: 1. SUPPLY A BROAD BASE OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES RELEVANT TO NASA PROGRAM AND PROJECT RESPONSIBILITIES AND ASSIGNMENTS. 2. FOSTER ITS UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH A TOP-TIER UNIVERSITY TO FACILITATE THE INVOLVEMENT OF SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY AND RESEARCH COMMUNITIES IN NASA MISSION AND IN SUPPORTING OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. 3. SUPPORT NASA IN ENABLING PROGRAM AND INSTITUTIONAL CAPABILITIES. 4. DEVELOP SPACECRAFT AND INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE SENT TO VARIOUS DESTINATIONS WITH OUR SOLAR SYSTEM, INCLUDING EARTH ORBIT, PLANETS, PLANETARY SATELLITES, ASTEROIDS, AND COMETS. THESE MISSIONS MAY BE ORBITERS, LANDERS, OR ROVERS, AND TYPICALLY INCLUDE CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES REQUIRED TO MEET SCIENTIFIC REQUIREMENTS. 5. PERFORM PROJECT TASKS INVOLVING: I-AUTONOMOUS DEEP-SPACE, INNER-SPACE AND EARTH-ORBITING SPACECRAFT OR MAJOR SUBSYSTEMS, II-EXPERIMENTS, INSTRUMENTS, OR OTHER DEVICES WHICH MAY BE CARRIED AS PAYLOAD ON SPACECRAFTS IN MISSIONS MANAGED BY OTHERS, AND-OR III-GROUND-BASED SYSTEMS. 6. BEYOND ITS PRIMARY MISSION, JPL MAY PERFORM WORK FOR OTHER NASA MISSION DIRECTORATES OR OFFICES. 7. JPL IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATION, RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY INSERTION, AND MANAGEMENT OF NASAS DEEP SPACE NETWORK TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATION AND OPERATION SERVICES, INCLUDING DATA ACQUISITION AND DATA DELIVERY REQUIRED TO MEET ESTABLISHED AGENCY OBJECTIVES. 8. JPL IS ALSO REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN AND CONDUCT AN EDUCATION PROGRAM IN CLOSE COORDINATION WITH THE NASA HEADQUARTERS EDUCATION OFFICE, THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY AT LARGE, AND IN SUPPORT TO NASA STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TO IMPROVE STUDENT RETENTION IN THE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS-STEM DISCIPLINES. WORK FOR NON-NASA SPONSORS: JPL MAY PERFORM WORK FOR NON-NASA SPONSORS. THIS WORK WILL BE DESIGNATED IN TASK ORDERS ISSUED BY NMO CONTRACTING OFFICERS BASED ON TASK PLANS INITIATED BY THE CONTRACTOR.
$1.3B · DELIVERY ORDER · National Aeronautics and Space Administration · CA
FEDERAL SPENDING · CITIZEN OPINION
Was this federal payment to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY worth it?
$1.3B · National Aeronautics and Space Administration to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
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What this award is
AI analysis
This is a contract between NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and Caltech (the California Institute of Technology) for Caltech to operate JPL (the Jet Propulsion Laboratory), a federally funded research center. A large portion of this specific award funds the Mars 2020 Science Rover Project, which is the mission that sent the Perseverance rover to Mars.
DEEPER CONTEXTAnalysis · Risks · Arguments
WHY THIS MONEY IS BEING SPENT
WHY WAS THIS FUNDED?
NASA is authorized by Congress to conduct space exploration and scientific research on behalf of the United States. This contract is the formal legal agreement that allows JPL, a private nonprofit lab managed by Caltech, to carry out NASA missions including planetary exploration.
WHAT PUBLIC PROBLEM IS IT TRYING TO SOLVE?
This spending addresses the need to explore space, advance scientific understanding of our solar system, and maintain U.S. leadership in space technology and research. It also supports national goals around science and engineering education.
WHO BENEFITS?
Scientists, engineers, and students at JPL and Caltech benefit directly through jobs and research opportunities. The broader public benefits from scientific discoveries, new technologies developed through space research, and educational programs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
Plain-language reading generated from the USASpending award record. Not legal or financial advice.
RISKS AND TRADEOFFS
WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
Because JPL operates as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), it faces less competitive bidding than typical government contracts, which raises questions about cost control and oversight. A contract spanning nearly 10 years and 1.3 billion dollars requires strong ongoing monitoring to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently.
WHAT HAPPENS IF FUNDING IS REMOVED?
Canceling this contract would likely halt or severely delay the Mars 2020 rover mission and other JPL-managed space missions. It could also disrupt the Deep Space Network, which is the global system NASA uses to communicate with spacecraft across the solar system.
FOR AND AGAINST
ARGUMENTS FOR
- •Space exploration generates scientific knowledge and technological innovations that benefit many areas of everyday life, from weather forecasting to medical imaging.
- •JPL has a proven track record of successfully delivering complex space missions, making it a reliable partner for high-stakes NASA work.
- •Investing in STEM education and research helps build a skilled American workforce and keeps the United States competitive globally in science and technology.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST
- •At 1.3 billion dollars over 10 years, this is a very large commitment of public funds, and some critics argue space exploration spending should be weighed against pressing needs here on Earth.
- •As an FFRDC, JPL is not subject to the same open competition as other contractors, which can reduce incentives to control costs and may limit opportunities for other organizations.
- •Long-term, multi-year contracts of this size are difficult for Congress and the public to monitor closely, raising concerns about accountability and the ability to adjust if priorities change.
SPENDING TIMELINE
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