Comments on: Commercial communications satellites for Mars?

By: Competential

Competential — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 09:04:26 +0000

Would laser com of today really work over a distance a thousand times that of Earth-Moon? Later this year 5 satellites will be orbiting Mars. Maybe putting some com equipment on Mars orbiters with other main purposes is

I found this year 2001 article proposing two com sats in Sun-Mars L1 and L2. I think one in L2 would be most important to cover the backside where direct com with Earth is not possible.
http://www.applieddefense.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/2001-Carrico-Sun-Mars_Libration_Points_And_Mars_Mission_Simulations.pdf

By: Orion314

Orion314 — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 01:54:52 +0000

Someone remind me , why do we need NASA?

By: Pzatchok

Pzatchok — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 22:08:45 +0000

They should have been doing this with every mission to mars in the last 15 years.

Each orbiter acting as a telecommunications satellite able to link with all other orbiters and landers. No matter what country or mission.

But its NASA, better late than never I guess.

By: DK Williams

DK Williams — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 18:55:00 +0000

I wonder what model the USPS will follow when it starts making deliveries to our Martian colonists. Bet FedEx or UPS beat them to it.

By: wodun

wodun — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 16:50:10 +0000

This would be great, if it happens.