![\"NASA](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/nasa_meatball_large.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>NASA selected three companies on Wednesday to perform work to develop Ka-band space relay capability concepts that are compatible with current missions in space, ensuring service continuity for existing spacecraft without requiring modifications to their onboard systems.<\/p>\n
Through this work, NASA will aim to acquire end-to-end solutions that include space, ground, launch, operations, and integration elements, as one of many customers in the commercial marketplace.<\/p>\n
The awards, under the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-3 Broad Agency Announcement Appendix E, are firm-fixed-price contracts that give NASA the option to provide additional funding up to the award limit to advance from initial concept development and risk reduction to an in-orbit flight demonstration. The initial period of performance runs from Nov. 4 through May 3, 2027, with additional priced options to continue work through 2029.<\/p>\n
The contract awardees with maximum potential value inclusive of all future options are:<\/p>\n
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- Astranis Space Technologies Corp. for $264.3 million.<\/li>\n
- Global Enterprise Solutions Inc. for $340.4 million.<\/li>\n
- Viasat Inc. for $460.9 million.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Facilitated through the agency\u2019s SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation)<\/a> program\u2019s Communications Services Project, this work supports NASA\u2019s decision to gradually retire the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite<\/a> fleet and adopt commercial services for future missions. In addition to the commercial capabilities currently under development<\/a> by the program\u2019s industry partners, Ka-band services are needed to support select in-orbit missions that cannot feasibly modify flight hardware or transition to non-compatible commercial services.<\/p>\n
To learn more about NASA\u2019s Network Extension for User Continuity and Sustainability Ka-band service acquisition, visit:<\/p>\n
https:\/\/go.nasa.gov\/4iVfeVB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
-end-<\/p>\n
Jennifer Dooren \/ Jessica Taveau
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
jennifer.m.dooren@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ jessica.c.taveau@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n \n\n\n\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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