{"id":428286,"date":"2026-05-15T06:53:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T20:53:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=995681"},"modified":"2026-05-15T06:53:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T20:53:24","slug":"nasa-draws-on-industry-for-mars-telecommunications-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=428286","title":{"rendered":"NASA Draws on Industry for Mars Telecommunications Network"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mars.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1161\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mars.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"eager\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mars.jpg 2068w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mars.jpg?resize=300,170 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mars.jpg?resize=768,435 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mars.jpg?resize=1024,580 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mars.jpg?resize=1536,870 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mars.jpg?resize=2048,1161 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mars.jpg?resize=400,227 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mars.jpg?resize=600,340 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mars.jpg?resize=900,510 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mars.jpg?resize=1200,680 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mars.jpg?resize=2000,1133 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA&#8217;s Perseverance Mars rover used its dual-camera Mastcam-Z imager to capture this image of &#8220;Santa Cruz,&#8221; a hill about 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) away from the rover, on April 29, 2021. <\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Credit: NASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>On Thursday, NASA issued a Request for Proposal (RFP), seeking industry collaboration for the <a href=\"https:\/\/sam.gov\/workspace\/contract\/opp\/61134227fd0b4729813a5b863ee4bef4\/view\" rel=\"noopener\">Mars Telecommunications Network<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Reliable, high bandwidth communications is necessary to relay science data, high-definition imagery, and critical information during Mars missions. The network will use high-performance Mars telecommunications orbiters at the Red Planet to support future surface, orbital, and human exploration.<\/p>\n<p>This RFP builds on a draft released April 2, as well as insights gathered during the accompanying industry day at NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, where commercial partners provided feedback on agency objectives for the Mars Telecommunications Network.<\/p>\n<p>The request seeks responses that address both current and future operational missions. It also seeks a science payload accommodation that will be selected by NASA\u2019s Science Mission Directorate. Industry is asked to respond within 30 calendar days of the posting, and the network should be ready to operate at Mars no later than 2030.<\/p>\n<p>The Mars Telecommunications Network is part of NASA\u2019s evolving space architecture, extending continuous network services beyond Earth to the Moon and Mars. The Mars Telecommunications Network is part of NASA\u2019s SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) Program\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/communicating-with-missions\/scan-enabling-moon-to-mars\/\">Moon to Mars<\/a> strategy, and is enabled by the direction and funding provided by Congress in the Working Families Tax Cut Act.<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about NASA\u2019s deep space exploration, visit:<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nasa.gov\/esdmd\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/nasa.gov\/esdmd<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-x\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?via=NASA&#038;text=NASA%20Draws%20on%20Industry%20for%20Mars%20Telecommunications%20Network&#038;%23038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fdirectorates%2Fesdmd%2Fnasa-draws-on-industry-for-mars-telecommunications-network%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on X.\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"1200\" height=\"1227\" viewBox=\"0 0 1200 1227\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M714.163 519.284L1160.89 0H1055.03L667.137 450.887L357.328 0H0L468.492 681.821L0 1226.37H105.866L515.491 750.218L842.672 1226.37H1200L714.137 519.284H714.163ZM569.165 687.828L521.697 619.934L144.011 79.6944H306.615L611.412 515.685L658.88 583.579L1055.08 1150.3H892.476L569.165 687.854V687.828Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fdirectorates%2Fesdmd%2Fnasa-draws-on-industry-for-mars-telecommunications-network%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook.\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 4.615v3.385z\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fdirectorates%2Fesdmd%2Fnasa-draws-on-industry-for-mars-telecommunications-network%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on LinkedIn.\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M4.98 3.5c0 1.381-1.11 2.5-2.48 2.5s-2.48-1.119-2.48-2.5c0-1.38 1.11-2.5 2.48-2.5s2.48 1.12 2.48 2.5zm.02 4.5h-5v16h5v-16zm7.982 0h-4.968v16h4.969v-8.399c0-4.67 6.029-5.052 6.029 0v8.399h4.988v-10.131c0-7.88-8.922-7.593-11.018-3.714v-2.155z\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-rss\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feed\/\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to RSS feed.\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 800 800\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M493 652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"\/><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\">May 14, 2026<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Location<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\"><a class=\"hds-location-tag-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/nasa-headquarters\/\"><span class=\"hds-meta-heading\">NASA Headquarters<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"article-tags\">\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/exploration-systems-development-mission-directorate\/\">Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mars\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Mars<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Thursday, NASA issued a Request for Proposal (RFP), seeking industry collaboration for the Mars Telecommunications Network. Reliable, high bandwidth communications is necessary to relay science data, high-definition imagery, and critical information during Mars missions. The network will use high-performance Mars telecommunications orbiters at the Red Planet to support future surface, orbital, and human exploration. [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16163,7727],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-428286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-exploration-systems-development-mission-directorate","category-mars"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/428286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=428286"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/428286\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":428501,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/428286\/revisions\/428501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=428286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=428286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=428286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}