NASA picks three companies for Ka-band space relay concept work
NASA awarded Astranis, Global Enterprise Solutions and Viasat contracts for Ka-band space relay concept development.
NASA selected three companies to develop Ka-band space relay capability concepts that are compatible with current missions. This approach ensures service continuity for existing spacecraft without requiring modifications to their onboard systems.
The awardees, with maximum potential value including all future options, are Astranis Space Technologies Corp. at $264.3 million, Global Enterprise Solutions Inc. at $340.4 million and Viasat Inc. at $460.9 million.
The awards fall under the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-3 Broad Agency Announcement Appendix E. They are firm-fixed-price contracts that give NASA the option to add funding up to the award limit, to move from initial concept development and risk reduction to an in-orbit flight demonstration. The initial period of performance runs from 4 November to 3 May 2027, with priced options to continue work through 2029.
NASA will aim to acquire end-to-end solutions covering space, ground, launch, operations and integration, as one of many customers in the commercial marketplace. The work, facilitated through the Communications Services Project of the SCaN program, supports NASA's decision to gradually retire the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite fleet and adopt commercial services for future missions.
Sourcenasa.gov