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NASA picks Blue Origin to build a Mars relay orbiter; Rocket Lab protests

The orbiter, worth up to about $700 million, is due by Dec 31, 2028 and should be working at Mars by 2030. Rocket Lab has challenged the award; a ruling is due by Dec 21.

By Mars Progress · Edited by Aleksandar Simov

Published 1 min read

An artist’s drawing of a spacecraft with a large dish antenna and two solar panels, against stars
An artist’s concept of NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, one of the orbiters that relay rover data to Earth today.Image: NASA/JPL

NASA chose Blue Origin on Sep 1, 2026 to build and run a relay orbiter that will pass data between Mars and Earth, under a firm-fixed-price contract worth up to about $700 million. Blue Origin must deliver the orbiter by Dec 31, 2028, and NASA expects the network to be working at Mars by 2030.[1]

“The award marks a milestone in NASA’s strategy to expand communications and navigation services beyond Earth and the Moon,” NASA said. Blue Origin will design, build, launch and operate what NASA calls the Mars Telecommunications Network, built around a high-performance relay orbiter; the project is managed by NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program.[1] Space.com reported that Blue Origin will base it on its Blue Ring spacecraft.[3]

Rocket Lab’s protest

On Sep 11, Rocket Lab filed a bid protest against the award with the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The case is open, and GAO’s decision is due by Dec 21, 2026.[2] Rocket Lab said NASA’s decision “appears to be inconsistent with the eligibility criteria mandated by Congress,” Space.com reported.[4] “As required by law, NASA has currently suspended performance of the Mars Telecommunications Network contract until the protest is resolved,” the agency told Aviation Week.[6][7]

Why Mars needs a relay

Rovers on Mars send their pictures and data to Earth through OrbiterAn orbiter circles Mars without landing, studying the planet from above — and many also relay rover data back to Earth.More in the glossary passing overhead. The relay fleet today is made up of orbiters that also do their own science: NASA’s Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and Europe’s Mars Express and Trace Gas Orbiter.[5] NASA lost its MAVEN orbiter, which also relayed data, in December 2025.[5]

What’s next

GAO’s ruling is due by Dec 21, 2026. If the award stands, the orbiter is due to be delivered by the end of 2028 and to start relaying data at Mars by 2030.[1][2]

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Sources

  1. NASA — NASA Selects Blue Origin as Mars Telecommunications Network ProviderPrimary · checked Oct 2, 2026
  2. U.S. Government Accountability Office — Bid protest docket B-424825.1: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.Primary · checked Oct 2, 2026
  3. Space.com — Blue Origin wins $700 million contract to build NASA’s next Mars orbiterSecondary · checked Oct 2, 2026
  4. Space.com — Rocket Lab protests NASA’s decision to award Blue Origin $700 million Mars orbiter contractSecondary · checked Oct 2, 2026
  5. NASA Science — Mars Relay NetworkPrimary · checked Oct 2, 2026
  6. Aviation Week — NASA Stops Work On Mars Orbiter After Contract ProtestSecondary · checked Oct 6, 2026
  7. U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo) — 31 U.S. Code § 3553: Review of protests; effect on contracts pending decisionPrimary · checked Oct 6, 2026