NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has released a public solicitation in the form of a 496-page document for new ways to expand the current commercial space program to the Red Planet.

JPL wants companies to find different ways to accomplish the tasks described in the paper. This includes the possibility of using “current or future” commercial space systems to “accelerate the exploration of Mars.” Additionally, JPL hopes to “significantly reduce costs while maintaining acceptable risk.”

Tasks range from “carrying smaller payloads” (approximately 20 kilograms) to “carrying larger payloads” (maximum 1,250 kilograms).

SpaceX is mentioned only twice in the document; Regardless, NASA is deliberately trying to keep the door open to other players in the private space industry. It looks like the agency is testing the ground to see if it makes sense to partner with another private company (whether it’s SpaceX or not) on future missions to Mars.