To support the coming decade of Mars exploration, NASA is establishing a telecommunications relay and navigation infrastructure in Mars orbit, supporting increased science data return, providing energy-efficient relays for small scout-class mission concepts, gathering engineering telemetry during critical mission events, and providing in situ radiobased navigation. A key element of this vision is the Electra Proximity Payload, a telecommunications and navigation payload that will fly on each Mars orbiter, beginning with the 2005 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and with subsequent flight on the 2009 Mars Telecommunications Orbiter (MTO). We present here the functional requirements, design characteristics, and implementation status of the Electra Payload and its role as a telecommunications node in an evolving Mars orbital infrastructure.

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