Mars Telecommunications Orbiter

1. Date to be confirmed

   Mars Telecommunications Orbiter

   To Be Determined

The source has not linked another mission stage.

Assigned hardware

Mission details

• planned

  Mission description

  NASA selected Blue Origin to develop and operate the future Mars Telecommunications Orbiter. The planned relay will support returning science data from Mars. NASA sets delivery no later than31December2028 and expects Mars operations by2030; these milestones do not establish a confirmed launch date. Orbital relay, suitable antennas and store-and-forward networking can improve data return while radio signal travel time remains limited by the distance toEarth.

  Evidence

  Future relay; delivery and operational milestones distinguished from unconfirmed launch timing. No operational fields or MTO performance values patched.

  • NASA Selects Blue Origin as Mars Telecommunications Network Provider ↗
  • Mars Relay Network ↗
  • Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking ↗
  • Mars Communications Disruption and Delay ↗

  Verified 2026-11-03

Reporting

Why a better Mars connection still leaves us waiting

NASA’s planned Mars relay is intended to return more science data. Following one observation and the journey of a reply explains why a better connection still leaves a long wait.