Mars telecommunications orbiter. Computer artwork of the proposed Mars telecommunications orbiter (MTO) sending data to Earth via a laser link (red). The MTO was slated for launch in 2009, however, the project was cancelled on 21 July 2005 as other missions were prioritised above it. The satellite would have been used to send data from Mars landers and orbiters back to Earth. It was primarily to use radio frequencies to communicate with Earth, but would also have carried the Mars laser communication demonstration project to test the use of a laser link.