QUESTION:
I just read the question and answer about this future problem of
communications.  It seemed that the idea was to send a signal from Earth
to Mars like we're doing with all the missions currently to Mars.  But
there is a 20 some minute delay, (I think that's what I heard).  I'm
wondering if it would be more feasable to set up a series of satilite's
around the Sun's orbit between Earth and Mars to relay the signals
always taking the quickest route's.  Being that Earth and Mars are
always altering their distances from each other, this seems like it
would work.  Please let me know what you think?  I'm not sure exactly
how Signals work through the void of space.  Thanks for your answer.

ANSWER from Dwight Holmes on July 18, 1999:
The answer is remarkably simple. Radio waves, like all parts of the
electromagnetic spectrum, including visible light, travel at the speed of
light (approx. 300,000 km/sec). It would make no difference how a signal
was relayed, the sum of the distances traveled would all add algebraically
for the total transit time. The shortest of which would be the direct line
of sight. In fact, relays would impose additional delays. The propagation
speed of an electromagnetic signal, through coaxial cable can be
significantly less than the free space speed, true also of the electronic
components in each relay. Therefore the addition of communication relays
would add to the delays, not improve it.

So, the answer to the best way to communicate with a space probe or vehicle
on the planet's surface, in terms of communications delay, is direct line
of sight.