NASA Perseverance vs Northrop MEV-2
Head-to-head comparison of NASA JPL NASA Perseverance and Maxar Technologies Northrop MEV-2. Updated 2026.
Last updated: October 1, 2026
Overall Score
82.5/ 100
NASA Perseverance
NASA JPL
78.3/ 100
Northrop MEV-2
Maxar Technologies
Score Breakdown
90
Performance85
88
Reliability85
60
Ease of Use58
88
Intelligence82
72
Value75
85
Ecosystem72
90
Safety88
85
Design70
Specs Comparison
| Spec | NASA Perseverance | Northrop MEV-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,700,000,000 | $300,000,000 |
| Power | Multi-Mission RTG 110W | — |
| Wheels | 6 | — |
| Cameras | 23 | — |
| Mass Kg | 1025 | 2300 |
| Mission | Mars Sample Return cache | — |
| Dimensions | 3m x 2.7m x 2.2m | — |
| Instruments | 7 | — |
| Top Speed Cmps | 4.2 | — |
| Type | — | Satellite life extension |
| Orbit | — | GEO |
| Docking | — | Non-cooperative capture |
| Customer | — | Intelsat |
| Life Extension Years | — | 5 |
Buyer Intelligence
| Metric | NASA Perseverance | Northrop MEV-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor Health Score | — | — |
| 5-Year TCO Estimate | $3,780,000,000 | $420,000,000 |
| Annual Maintenance | — | — |
| Support Model | — | — |
| Safety Certifications | — | — |