NASA Sparks a New Race for Mars Data Transmission

For decades, NASA has been building and launching its own relay and spacecraft systems to transmit valuable data from distant missions back to Earth. Now, the agency is shifting toward purchasing connectivity as a service, similar to how it contracts commercial providers for astronaut launches and cargo deliveries to the International Space Station.
This strategic pivot has ignited a competitive race among leading space companies, each vying to offer their own Mars data transmission channels. By…