NASA has revealed plans to partner with commercial companies, including SpaceX, to support its Mars exploration missions. During a recent meeting of the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group, NASA presented several proposals from aerospace firms on how to develop next-generation relay services for Mars.
SpaceX’s concept, dubbed “Marslink,” is based on its existing Starlink satellite internet system and aims to provide full visibility and interoperability for ground and orbital assets. The proposal involves deploying multiple space satellites in Mars orbit to enable communication with Earth and other spacecraft across vast distances.
The Marslink concept exceeds the requested capability, offering speeds of 4Mbps or more and supporting imaging and monitoring of the planet. SpaceX’s vision is to use Starlink to beam communications to spacecraft, which aligns with CEO Elon Musk’s long-term goal of colonizing Mars.
Several companies are interested in partnering with NASA on this project, according to the presentation. The Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group plans to continue discussions with industry players next year. Meanwhile, NASA has achieved a significant milestone in its laser communication system, demonstrating a sustained downlink data rate of 6.25 megabits per second from a spacecraft over 240 million miles away.
Source: https://uk.pcmag.com/networking/155252/spacex-pitches-nasa-on-marslink-a-version-of-starlink-for-the-red-planet