Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin won NASA’s race to build the agency’s next Mars communications orbiter, securing a contract worth up to $700 million for a high-bandwidth network NASA expects to have operating at the Red Planet by 2030.
NASA Bets Big On Mars Communications
NASA awarded Blue Origin the firm-fixed-price contract Tuesday to develop the Mars Telecommunications Network, or MTN. The company must deliver the spacecraft by Dec. 31, 2028 and will design, launch and operate the system.
"The award marks a milestone in NASA’s strategy to expand communications and navigation services beyond Earth and the Moon," NASA said in a press release, calling it a foundation for "sustained exploration of Mars in the coming decades."
Unlike existing orbiters that divide time between science and communications, MTN will relay science data, imagery, navigation information and mission communications for spacecraft on and around Mars.
NASA’s Mars Relay Network now relies on four orbiters after the agency ended MAVEN’s mission in June. Veteran assets include Mars Odyssey, launched in 2001, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched in 2005. NASA says every image returned from the Martian surface since 2004 has passed through the relay network.
Blue Ring Anchors Blue Origin’s Mars Push
Blue Origin will base MTN on its Blue Ring spacecraft. The company says the platform combines solar-electric and chemical propulsion, high-rate communications and onboard computing, and can carry more than 1,000 kilograms of payload to Mars orbit. The company will base the Mars Telecommunications Orbiter on its Blue Ring spacecraft platform.
"MTO is the backbone of America’s Mars exploration program for the next decade and beyond," Blue Origin’s National Security President Tory Bruno said, adding that it will keep future robotic and human missions connected to Earth.
Blue Origin Wins Competitive NASA Race
Rocket Lab Corp. (NASDAQ:RKLB) had publicly pitched its Explorer platform for the same opportunity, citing its experience building NASA’s twin ESCAPADE Mars spacecraft. NASA selected Blue Origin after issuing its request for proposals in May.
The award expands Blue Origin’s push beyond launch and lunar missions. A Blue Ring pathfinder flew aboard New Glenn’s inaugural 2025 mission, when the rocket reached orbit on its first attempt and drew congratulations from Elon Musk.
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