NASA has taken a significant step to enhance its communication capabilities for missions in Earth orbit and beyond, announcing the selection of four companies to provide these essential services.
The agency disclosed on December 20 that task orders were awarded to Intuitive Machines, Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), SSC Space U.S., and Viasat. These firms will support NASA’s Near Space Network (NSN), which ensures communication for missions extending up to two million kilometers from Earth.
Intuitive Machines, which previously secured a task order in September for communication services between the moon and geostationary orbit, has now received two additional orders for direct-to-Earth communication. This will bolster NASA’s Lunar Exploration Ground Segment, a critical component for future lunar missions.
KSAT has been entrusted with a task order to support not only the Lunar Exploration Ground Segment but also to provide direct-to-Earth communication for spacecraft within Earth orbit. This aligns with KSAT’s ongoing efforts, utilizing its KSAT Lunar service, to establish a robust commercial lunar network.
SSC Space has been awarded two task orders focused on communications with spacecraft in low Earth orbit and in unique, highly elliptical orbits. Meanwhile, Viasat will handle communication tasks for spacecraft in Earth orbit.
Although the financial details of these task orders remain undisclosed, they will provide services from February 2025 to September 2029, with an option for extension through September 2034. Collectively, the contracts within the Near Space Network have a maximum potential value of $4.82 billion.
Intuitive Machines highlighted the strategic use of its existing ground station network and collaborations with strategically placed radio astronomy telescopes to support these missions. Steve Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines, mentioned that the new awards enhance their current NSN contract, broadening their space communication and navigation services.
Rolf Skatteboe, President and CEO of KSAT, stated that their investment in the first commercial lunar network would serve as a foundation for future NASA support. This emphasis on commercial services marks NASA’s shift from its traditional reliance on the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) system.
The Near Space Network currently includes globally distributed ground stations and the TDRS system, but NASA plans to phase out the TDRS constellation. Instead, it will depend on commercial satellites, having already ceased the acceptance of new missions into the TDRS constellation. Existing missions will continue using the seven TDRS spacecraft in geostationary orbit, maintaining support for the International Space Station, Hubble Space Telescope, and other spacecraft into the 2030s.
NASA’s decision to partner with these commercial entities represents a strategic move to enhance and future-proof its communication network capabilities. By leveraging innovative external expertise, the agency is poised to efficiently support a wide array of missions in the coming years.
Source: Spacenews
