Planned missions to the Moon and Mars require modern communications and navigation systems, prompting NASA officials to solicit ideas through proposals from American companies.
On July 7, NASA issued a request for proposals for a “high-performance, highly reliable communications infrastructure” between the lunar and Martian surfaces and associated ground communications centers.
“These partnerships are driving significant advances in communications and navigation,” said Greg Heckler, NASA's deputy program manager for space communications and navigation.
“This enables our astronauts, rovers and spacecraft — all NASA missions — to expand humanity's horizons in exploring the Moon, Mars and beyond,” Heckler added.
The communications and navigation infrastructure will support the market for ongoing scientific activity, exploration, and economic development in space by NASA and private aerospace companies.
More than 100 NASA and private space missions depend on NASA's SCAN near- and deep-space networks, according to the space agency.
Missions like these support astronauts on the International Space Station, future lunar exploration through the Artemis program, weather monitoring on Earth, and exploration of the Moon and solar system, among other things.
NASA is accepting applications until 5 p.m. ET on August 13.
In December, the space agency signed contracts to build the Near Space Network with Houston-based Intuit Machines, Norway's Kongsberg Satellite Services, Horsham, Pa.-based SSC Space US Inc., and Duluth, Ga.-based Viasat Inc.
These initiatives are aimed at providing capabilities for human missions to Mars, as well as supporting the construction of a lunar habitat and a lunar landing module.
NASA also approved contracts with nine companies, which paid each between $200,000 and $300,000 to conduct tests in support of future Mars missions.
The tests include commercial and research missions that are part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, which plans to send missions to Mars over the next twenty years.
Sourse: www.upi.com
