Rocket Lab eyes Mars Telecommunications Orbiter as NASA revives mission concept

Date:
Thu, 18 Sep 2025 05:00:02 +0000

Description:
Rocket Labthe operator of the worlds second-busiest orbital rockethas been touting its vision for a The post Rocket Lab eyes Mars Telecommunications Orbiter as NASA revives mission concept appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com .

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Rocket Labthe operator of the worlds second-busiest orbital rockethas been touting its vision for a Mars Telecommunications Orbiter.

Rocket Labs founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, laid out a compelling case
during an exclusive interview with NSF on Wednesday.

The interest lies in a revived $700 million congressional push to bridge
Earth and the Red Planet with high-speed interplanetary internet, and Rocket Lab wants in on the action.

The company isnt alone in its enthusiasm. Blue Origin has already floated a proposal, but Beck, a vocal advocate for planetary exploration, emphasized that robust communications are the unsung hero of any Mars endeavor.



Nothing happens without communications, great communications, Beck said. Obviously, this administration has a strong desire to put a footprint on
Mars. And youre not going to put a footprint on Mars until you have high bandwidth, reliable communications, plus account for communications on the surface of Mars.

The Mars Telecommunications Orbiter (MTO) isnt a new idea. Conceived in the early 2000s, the project aimed to deliver broadband data relay services between Earth and Mars, enabling seamless transmission of scientific data, high-definition imagery, and even future crewed missions.

Slated for a 2009 launch, it was axed in 2005 to secure funding for NASAs Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission and the iconic Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity.

Fast-forward two decades, and the concept is back. Tucked into the U.S. Presidents Big Beautiful Billa sweeping infrastructure and science packageis $700 million earmarked for developing a next-generation MTO.

The timeline is aggressive: Congress must approve the budget by 2026, with a launch targeted no later than 2028.Theres no opportunity there to do
something crazy, Beck noted, underscoring the need for proven, off-the-shelf solutions over risky innovations.

Rocket Labs proposal stands out for its simplicity: a single satellite in areosynchronous orbitessentially a geosynchronous path tuned to Mars
rotation, keeping it fixed over a key point on the planets surface. This contrasts with more complex multi-satellite constellations that would demand frequent replacements.

To sidestep bottlenecks at NASAs Deep Space Network (DSN)already oversubscribed and projected to hit 50% overcapacity by the 2030s, per a 2023 inspector general reportthe design swaps traditional radio frequency (RF) links for optical laser communications. DSN at Canberra. Credit NASA.

Obviously, you can have a traditional RF link that is obviously a big burden on DSN, Beck explained. Were starting to hear quite a bit about optical comms these days. The gold standard here would be a laser optical relay link. That would be the gold standard for maximum bandwidth and unburdening DSN.

Beck highlighted Rocket Labs deep Mars credentials, bolstered by acquisitions and ongoing projects.

Were no strangers to Mars. Through some of our acquisitions, we have a tremendous amount of hardware sitting on Mars. I think we have more solar power on Mars than any other company right now, he said.

The company also has two EscaPADE spacecraft en route to the Red Planet later this year, demonstrating its prowess in building durable interplanetary hardware. Sustainability is key in Becks vision. Low-Earth-orbit constellations around Mars would require replenishment every five yearsa logistical nightmare given the 140-million-mile journey and escalating costs. Instead, Rocket Lab favors a high-orbit asset with a 10- to 30-year lifespan.

You dont want to be replenishing those kinds of assets. You want them to just sit there and just go forever, Beck said.

To hit the 2028 deadline, the proposal leverages Rocket Labs existing inventory. The way you can operate around a complicated spacecraft in that time frame is to take stuff that youve got, Beck revealed. Its a derivative
of the companys Photon Explorer Bus, incorporating Pioneer Bus components and Lightning platform tech for communicationsall pulled straight from the Rocket Lab catalog.

Becks advocacy stems not only from a company perspective but also traces back to his own personal interests. NASAs call for commercial ideas on the Mars Sample Return mission emphasized the crossover between Becks interests and Rocket Labs capabilities. Everybody knows I have a real passion for planetary science, he said. The big question Im trying to ask with the Venus Project
is, is life unique to Earth, or is life not exclusive to Earth? With the recent discovery of some interesting rocks on Mars, I think it just
highlights the fact that we just need to get there and answer this question and bring those samples home.

I think theres probably half a dozen Nobel Prizes just sitting on the surface of Mars right now.

(Lead Image: Rocket Lab MTO concept).

The post Rocket Lab eyes Mars Telecommunications Orbiter as NASA revives mission concept appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com .



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Link to news story: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2025/09/rocket-lab-eyes-mto-nasa-revives-missi on-concept/


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