The US President’s proposed budget decimates NASA’s funding, putting the future of human missions to Mars in jeopardy. The plan aims to advance precursor flights but terminates funding for three orbiters crucial to a safe human expedition. These orbiters form the Mars Relay Network, which played a key role in the successful Perseverance and Ingenuity missions.
According to Roy Gladden, manager of the Mars Relay Network at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the loss of these orbiters would significantly impact the relay network. Odyssey and MAVEN are uniquely positioned to receive data from rovers at the end of their workday, facilitating next-day planning. Losing access to either orbiter would require rover projects to slow down operations and reduce data returned from the Martian surface.
However, if Congress overrides the president’s plan, NASA’s Mars Exploration flights could be revived with a new boost in financial backing. Gladden hopes that this would enable the construction of a next-generation Mars relay constellation, paving the way for human explorers to trek across the planet.
Senator Ted Cruz has introduced a special appropriations bill that would add $9.99 billion to NASA’s funding, providing $700 million for a high-performance Mars telecommunications orbiter. This lifeline could extend the lifetime of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion space capsule, while also pushing forward the construction of a next-generation Mars relay constellation.
Gladden welcomes Cruz’s proposal, stating that it would be “fantastic” if it came to fruition. The senator’s efforts aim to push forward NASA’s ambitions in space exploration, potentially laying the groundwork for a Solar System Internet that connects Earth with robots and astronauts exploring the planets and moons.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinholdenplatt/2025/06/28/white-house-could-jeopardize-mars-missions-by-slashing-nasas-funding