[Blue Origin wins a US$700 million contract from NASA to develop a high-performance Mars communication network] On September 2, NASA announced on Tuesday that it had awarded a Mars communication network development contract to Blue Origin to provide reliable high-bandwidth communication and navigation services for its Mars mission. The contract could be worth as much as $700 million. Blue Origin will build a high-performance Mars communications orbiter for NASA by December 31, 2028. Once operational, the orbiter will transmit scientific data, images, navigation information and mission-critical communications for spacecraft operating on and around the surface of Mars.