NASA Awards Blue Origin $700 Million Contract for Mars Orbiter

May 16 ETDeveloping

Science Desk

In Short: NASA has awarded a $700 million contract to Blue Origin to develop a Mars communications orbiter for launch in over two years.

48th MSG secures $95 million contract for deterrence initiatives (8878544) — Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerman / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

NASA has awarded a $700 million contract to Blue Origin to build a Mars communications orbiter, according to SpaceNews. The contract was awarded on September 1 and aims for a launch within just over two years.

This orbiter will play a crucial role in enhancing communication capabilities between Earth and Mars, supporting ongoing and future missions to the red planet.

What's confirmed

What's still developing

WASHINGTON — NASA awarded a $700 million contract to Blue Origin on Sept.
1 to build a Mars communications orbiter intended for launch in just over two years.

Sources

SpaceNewslink