Every command, telemetry stream and science downlink to the surface passes through the Mars orbit relay network. Orbit Relay keeps that network healthy: it schedules contact windows across every surface unit, identifies which ageing relay satellites need replacement, and plans the safe disposal of hardware that has reached end of life.
- Priority-ranked contact scheduling across the relay network
- Link-performance modelling per relay satellite
- Coverage-gap forecasting for replacement planning
- End-of-life disposal simulation and execution planning
On-relay intelligence
Link quality, pass geometry and queued data volume are characterised by the AI on board each relay satellite. Only prioritised scheduling conflicts and validated contact plans are transmitted, so ground teams plan against assessed link performance rather than raw telemetry streams.
Contact scheduling
Every surface unit and orbiter is scored by data backlog, pass duration, elevation angle and mission priority. The scheduler produces a contact plan that maximises delivered data per orbit while respecting each relay satellite's power and thermal limits.
Link performance characterisation
Signal strength, Doppler shift and error rates from previous passes are combined into a performance model per link. Knowing which geometries and conditions degrade throughput is the precondition for reliable scheduling, and our estimators track how each relay's performance evolves over its mission life.
Replacement and coverage planning
Coverage gaps that will emerge as relay satellites age or fail are projected months ahead, so replacement launches and orbit-raising manoeuvres for new relays can be timed to avoid any loss of ground contact.
End-of-life disposal
For relay satellites reaching end of life, disposal concepts - graveyard orbit transfer or controlled deorbit - are simulated against the specific spacecraft state, keeping operational orbits clear for active hardware.
Mission alignment
Relay capacity, scheduling conflicts and coverage forecasts are documented so mission planners, science teams and future crewed operations can rely on a predictable communication backbone.