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NASA Awards Blue Origin Contract for Mars Communications Network
The $700 million firm-fixed-price deal will send a Mars communications orbiter by Dec. 31, 2028, NASA said.
NASA awarded Blue Origin a contract on Tuesday to develop the Mars Telecommunications Network, a next-generation communications system valued at $700 million with delivery required by Dec. 31, 2028.
Robotic missions are paving the way for human exploration of the Red Planet, and as these missions expand, demand for data continues to increase, requiring reliable infrastructure to support growing operational needs.
Blue Origin will design, develop, integrate, launch, and operate the network as part of NASA's Space Communications infrastructure. The orbiter will transmit "science data, imagery, navigation information, and critical mission communications for spacecraft operating on and around the planet."
Under the Artemis program, NASA is exploring the Moon and preparing for Mars missions. Blue Origin has already secured contracts to build lunar landers, strengthening its role as a key commercial partner across multiple NASA initiatives.
Despite progress on the contract, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman projected the New Glenn rocket program may remain out of commission until 2028, while the CEO claimed repairs would be complete by year-end 2026.