NASA has revealed the goals and requirements for the new Martian orbital communications vehicle — the Mars Telecommunications Network (MTN). The project is financed within the budget law 2025 year and will become a key element of the communication and navigation infrastructure for missions to Mars in the coming decades.
Mars Telecommunications Network (formerly Mars Telecommunications Orbiter) is a specialized orbital vehicle, intended for:
ensuring stable and continuous communication with missions on Mars;
provision of positioning services, navigation and time synchronization (PNT);
support for current and future Martian vehicles;
accompanying missions to work out entry technologies, descent and landing (EDL) to 2035 year.
The project was received $700 million financing within the framework of the budget act, adopted in July 2025 year. According to the document, the device must be handed over to the agency no later than the end 2028 year, however, the exact launch date has not yet been determined.
In the published 24 In February, the agency outlined key parameters in the draft requirements:
the term of active work is no less 5 years;
data transfer speed — up to 100 Mbit/s with a direct connection to the Earth;
full compatibility with the Deep Space Network;
providing PNT services for Mars missions.
The document does not require the mandatory use of optical (laser) communication, able to provide higher data transfer rates, however, it does not exclude its implementation.
The device will be fully focused on communication and navigation tasks. Installation of scientific instruments is not provided, which is due to budget and time constraints.
Selection of contractors: The selection of contractors is directly related to the Mars Sample Return initiative (MSR). Only companies will be able to participate in the tender, which received NASA funding in fiscal years 2024-2025 and offered an independent orbital relay to support the MSR mission.
Rocket: NASA previously published a list of eligible companies, but the message was promptly deleted. The list included Blue Origin, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rocket Lab, SpaceX, Quantum Space, Whittinghill Aerospace. All of them participated in previous studies of the Mars Sample Return alternative architecture. Blue Origin and Rocket Lab are the most active in announcing their plans.
Blue Origin: bet on New Glenn and Blue Ring. The company offers an integrated solution, which includes the New Glenn launch vehicle and its Blue Ring platform. Although New Glenn has already made two launches, the full-fledged Blue Ring spacecraft has not yet flown — only individual components have been tested in space.
Rocket Lab: bet on deep space. Rocket Lab positions itself as a "vertically integrated mission provider" — from rocket to spacecraft. The company emphasizes the experience of developing ESCAPADE devices, sent to Mars; supply of components for other Martian missions; deep space beyond the Artemis program.
Rocket Lab chairman Peter Beck said, that the company considers itself the "strongest contender" for the contract.
Currently, communication with Mars is provided by existing orbiters, including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Odyssey, as well as MAVEN, with whom contact has been practically lost recently.
However, many of them are already overworked 15 years. The creation of a new specialized repeater will allow the current Martian artificial satellites to be unloaded, increase the speed of transmission of scientific data, provide infrastructure for manned missions in the future, to create an endowment for a long-term human presence on Mars.
NASA is preparing a draft request for proposals (RFP). Comments on the published draft are accepted until 10 March. The final version of the tender documentation is expected in the near future. The Mars Telecommunications Network could become a key element of the new US Martian architecture and an important step toward large-scale research and, perhaps, manned program on the Red Planet.
Source: https://lookintothe.space