Frequency bands for Mars in-situ communications

The recent decision to send two rovers to Mars in 2003 has provided new direction for Mars exploration. To meet these future challenges, JPL is preparing the Deep Space Network and other communication systems to support the expected increase in Mars exploration activities. Toward this end, JPL is conducting studies to enhance communications and navigation capabilities on or around Mars for future Mars missions and is investing in hardware development for use by those missions. One such study is developing a multiple-access scheme and a frequency-utilization plan for in-situ communications and navigation. The results of this study will provide recommendations for developing communications hardware for future Mars missions, establishing interoperability processes and standards, ensuring access to the radio frequency spectrum for operations at Mars and for testing at Earth, and designing a communication and navigation infrastructure around Mars. This paper focuses on the selection of frequencies for local ("in situ") links at Mars. Various factors affecting the selection of frequencies, including link performance, propagation effects, and mission scenarios, are discussed.