The RFP builds on a draft released April 2 and insights from an industry day at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, according to the agency. It seeks responses addressing both current and future operational missions, as well as a science payload accommodation selected by NASA's Science Mission Directorate. Industry must respond within 30 calendar days of the posting.
The Mars Telecommunications Network is part of NASA's SCaN Program's Moon to Mars strategy, enabled by direction and funding from Congress in the Working Families Tax Cut Act. It remains unclear which companies will respond to the RFP or what the total budget for the network will be.