" The TMO Progress Report, published by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, reports principally on activities of the Telecommunications and Mission Operations Directorate (TMOD) in planning, research, technology development, implementation, and operations in the areas of data services, mission services, radio science, ground-based radio and radar astronomy, and TMOD-managed flight projects." more

" Interplanetary Network Directorate (IND) Mission Statement: The mission of the TMOD Technology Office is to identify, develop, and demonstrate new technologies and innovative approaches to meet the telecommunications, mission operations, and science needs of present and future TMOD customers at minimum end-to-end cost to NASA..." more

 

" The NASA Deep Space Network - or DSN - is an international network of antennas that supports interplanetary spacecraft missions and radio and radar astronomy observations for the exploration of the solar system and the universe. The network also supports selected Earth-orbiting missions.
The DSN currently consists of three deep-space communications facilities placed approximately 120 degrees apart around the world: at Goldstone, in California's Mojave Desert; near Madrid, Spain; and near Canberra, Australia. This strategic placement permits constant observation of spacecraft as the Earth rotates, and helps to make the DSN the largest and most sensitive scientific telecommunications system in the world... " more

Mars Network is being studied at JPL as a possible future element of NASA's Mars Surveyor Program, designed to support Mars global reconnaissance, surface exploration, sample return missions, robotic outposts, and eventual human exploration by: (1) Developing a communications capability to provide a substantial increase in data rates and connectivity from Mars to Earth; (2) Developing an in situ navigation capability to enable more precise targeting and location information on approach and at Mars. By developing the capability to provide increased data rates and connectivity, Mars Network also would enable greater information flow to the public for the purpose of engaging them in the Mars exploration adventure. In essence, Mars Network would be building a publicly accessible "gateway" to Mars.