Martian Link Budget

Martian Link Budget is a space planning model that estimates whether a signal path has enough margin for reliable communication for Mars relay, rover, and entry operations. It uses antenna gain, path loss, modulation, and noise estimates so teams can schedule contacts with realistic margins while keeping evidence, reliability, and public-safe operational boundaries clear.

“The mission team used Martian Link Budget when the rover started a high-latency science pass, so the team could schedule contacts with realistic margins before the next mission decision point.”