A Mars radio relay must be bought on a fixed-price contract and delivered by 2028
What the document says“$700,000,000, to be obligated not later than fiscal year 2026, for the procurement, using a competitively bid, firm fixed-price contract with a United States commercial provider”
The section provides $700,000,000, to be obligated by fiscal year 2026, for a high-performance Mars telecommunications orbiter bought on a competitively bid firm fixed-price contract from a United States commercial provider as defined in section 50101(7). The orbiter must give robust continuous communications for a Mars sample return mission and for future Mars surface, orbital and human exploration missions, must support autonomous operations, onboard processing and extended mission duration, must be chosen from among commercial proposals that received Administration funding in fiscal year 2024 or 2025 for Mars Sample Return design studies and that proposed a separately launched telecommunications orbiter, and must be delivered by December 31, 2028.
What the document actually says“$700,000,000, to be obligated not later than fiscal year 2026, for the procurement, using a competitively bid, firm fixed-price contract with a United States commercial provider”
The sum is $700 million. It must be committed by fiscal year 2026. It buys a spacecraft from a United States firm. The deal must be bid for at a fixed price.
The craft is a radio relay that circles Mars. It carries signals back to Earth. It must be handed over by December 31, 2028.
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