One Mars spacecraft, two senators, and a cloud of questions
Summary
NASA has started the process to choose a company to build a new spacecraft that will orbit Mars and relay communications between Mars and Earth. Congress has approved $700 million for this project, which may also be linked to restarting a canceled mission to bring samples back from Mars.Key Facts
- NASA released a contract request for a Mars orbiting spacecraft called the Mars Telecommunications Network.
- Congress allocated $700 million for this project in 2025.
- The new spacecraft will help relay communications from Mars to Earth, replacing the 20-year-old Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
- Only companies that received funding in 2024 or 2025 for commercial Mars Sample Return mission studies can bid.
- Eligible companies include Rocket Lab, Blue Origin, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, SpaceX, Quantum Space, and Whittinghill Aerospace.
- The contract proposals are due by June 15, with a decision expected by October 1, 2025.
- There is some debate over whether the bidding rules favor certain companies because of their prior Mars Sample Return proposals.
- NASA delayed releasing the contract invitation by two weeks beyond the planned May 1 date.
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