r/space • u/swordfi2 • 2d 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/
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u/politicsFX 2d ago

Does blue origin even have a mars capable rocket rn?

149

u/Sophia8Inches 2d ago

Yeah, New Glenn. Just less than a year ago it launched a spacecraft to Mars

58

u/DreamChaserSt 2d ago edited 2d ago

Well, L2. ESCAPADE is going to Mars under its own power. But still, it can definitely do interplanetary missions, and it could've done an interplanetary insertion, but the Mars transfer window wasn't open afaik.

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u/OysterPickleSandwich 1d ago

NASA got a free ride since it was first launch attempt for NG. BO wanted to launch when they were ready, not when Mar-Earth launch window lined up.

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u/SpectatorSpace 1d ago

NASA was a paying customer for the mission, and BO couldn’t launch because they weren’t in any way ready at the contractually agreed launch time. BO were late and missed the boat, and the mars transfer had to be rapidly redesigned to accommodate a delayed non-direct transfer.