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Completed TRL 4 (started at 4, targeting 5)
This project explores the option of flying at Mars, for telecommunications relay purposes, a 3-m diameter deployable mesh reflector developed for Earth's geosynchronous orbit. The intent is to understand and develop any technology development activities needed by the different environment at Mars and on the way to Mars.
During the first portion of this activity, a Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM) was held at Tendeg, the company developing the perimeter truss reflector (PTR). At this meeting, JPL representatives for RF, mechanical, thermal and systems engineering provided feedback and suggested actions needed to increase the TRL of the PTR to 5 and later to TRL 6 if additional funding is secured. As the work progresses, we intend to perform analyses and component testing to address the concerns raised during the discussion.
Some of the important differences between the earth GEO environment and a Mars Telecom relay system are the extended duration of partial deployment (and potential for creep) during cruise, greater exposure to solar ionizing radiation outside the protection of the van Allen belts, increased heating during aerocapture and aerobraking using the Martian atmosphere to slow the spacecraft and reduce its orbit altitude, the more frequent eclipses imposing greater swings in temperature and lower average temperatures, and the need for improved thermal stability to ensure accurate pointing over the much greater distances involved.
The main benefit would be the reduced cost since much of the non-recurring engineering would already have been accomplished by the time such a capability could be funded for new Mars telecom relay satellites. The low cost would enable a constellation of relatively small and inexpensive satellites to provide greater bandwidth, while enhancing reliability using system-level redundancy.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
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