One Mars Spacecraft, Two Senators, and a Cloud of Questions The latest development in NASA's quest to upgrade its Martian communications relay has all the makings of a high stakes drama, complete with billions of dollars on the line and the potential for a major controversy that could reverberate across the space community.
At issue is a $700 million contract for a Mars Telecommunications Network (MTN) spacecraft, which will serve as a vital link between the Red Planet and Earth.
The project has been years in the making, with NASA's current Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter nearing the end of its 20 year lifespan.