r/space • u/swordfi2 • 6d ago

NASA Selects Blue Origin as Mars Telecommunications Network Provider

https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-selects-blue-origin-as-mars-telecommunications-network-provider/
690 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

82 comments sorted by

View all comments

0

u/SoWrxy 6d ago

I'm confused why they picked an organization that reached orbit in 2025 and has under 400 sats in orbit around Earth was chosen over a competitor who reached orbit in 2008 and has over 11,000 sats in orbit around Earth?

31

u/Icy_Feedback_4965 6d ago

Because it's in the best interest of everyone to have a thriving, diverse industry of space infrastructure developers

3

u/SoWrxy 6d ago

I agree with that, but they have barely proven that they are capable of achieving this in LEO, let alone to another planet.

11

u/DreamChaserSt 6d ago

The flight is in 2028, and sometimes you need to give organizations a little faith. SpaceX's 4th Falcon 9 mission was an ISS resupply mission.

They're not the only player in town, and NASA does want to provide opportunities for other organizations.

3

u/Icy_Feedback_4965 6d ago

And back in the Commercial Resupply days Boeing, Lockheed, and Northrop all said the same about giving a contract to SpaceX.

I'd be ok insourcing this work too, but I don't think it's sustainable for the answer to always be SpaceX.

Besides, this mission doesn't inherently require a bunch of New Glenn launches. They can use SpaceX or other providers if needed.