How Congress Narrowed Competition for NASA's Mars Orbiter

NASA requires a new communications relay satellite for Mars to replace the aging Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, but the $700 million congressional appropriation comes with specific requirements that limit competition to only certain US companies. This apparent contradiction between NASA's stated commitment to 'full and open competition' and the restrictive eligibility criteria raises significant questions about the integrity of the procurement process and the influence of legislative mandates on space industry competition.