NASA Launches Competition to Develop the Data Pipeline for Mars

For many years, NASA has developed and operated its own relay orbiters and spacecraft to transmit vital data back to Earth. The agency is now shifting towards obtaining connectivity as a service, mirroring its strategy for launch services and astronaut transport.

This transformation has sparked a competitive environment, with leading companies proposing solutions to ensure consistent communication for Mars missions. The stakes are significant, involving not just a single contract but the critical data connection to Mars.

This forward-thinking approach will merge NASA assets with commercial infrastructure, gradually phasing out the existing relay network the agency currently utilizes. Typically, this network comprises orbiters such as the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and MAVEN, which gather data from rovers and landers before relaying it to Earth’s Deep Space Network (DSN) through large antennas.

Despite the continued operation of NASA’s relay spacecraft, they were never designed to act as a permanent framework. A recent senior review of planetary missions highlights MAVEN’s vital function in communication relay and outlines steps to keep it operational into the early 2030s. Nonetheless, this hardware will eventually reach the end of its life cycle.

Concurrently, NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program, responsible for the DSN, is actively exploring methods to enhance these aging systems. In July, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued with the aim of creating an interoperable marketplace where NASA would be one of many clients rather than the sole operator.

The current request is focused on capability studies rather than immediate hardware purchases. The objectives are twofold: to establish a “lunar trunkline” that connects the Moon and Earth and to develop a comprehensive Mars communications system that relays data from surface assets through Mars orbit back to operational centers on Earth.

This represents a substantial challenge. Any suggested architecture must tackle the immense distances between Earth, the Moon, and Mars, as well as issues like long latency, intermittent solar interference, Earth visibility windows, and the rigorous demands for fault-tolerant systems. Therefore, NASA is seeking proposals to assess how the industry might address these challenges before proceeding with procurement.

While TechCrunch cannot verify the companies involved in the concept proposal submissions, several have already publicly indicated their positions in this competitive race.

Blue Origin has recently unveiled a Mars Telecommunications Orbiter based on its Blue Ring platform, describing it as a maneuverable, high-performance spacecraft aimed at supporting NASA missions as early as 2028. Rocket Lab has also proposed its own Mars telecom orbiter concept, which the company considers a crucial element of its planned architecture for the Mars Sample Return mission.

In 2024, NASA’s Mars Exploration Program allocated funds for 12 short commercial services studies, including three focused on next-generation relay services, awarded to SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, and Blue Origin. SpaceX’s proposal to “adapt Earth-orbit communication satellites for Mars” is anticipated to leverage its Starlink internet satellite constellation.

The overarching objective is to transition the agency’s planetary exploration efforts from conducting solely scientific missions to establishing a lasting human presence on the Moon and, eventually, Mars.