NASA selected three companies on Nov. 4, 2026, to develop Ka-band space relay capability concepts compatible with existing spacecraft. The firm-fixed-price contracts aim to maintain service continuity for current missions as the agency prepares to gradually retire its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite fleet.
Contract details
NASA selected Astranis Space Technologies Corp., Global Enterprise Solutions Inc., and Viasat Inc. to perform work on Ka-band space relay concepts. The awards carry maximum potential values of $264.3 million for Astranis Space Technologies Corp., $340.4 million for Global Enterprise Solutions Inc., and $460.9 million for Viasat Inc., inclusive of all future options.
The awards were made under the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-3 Broad Agency Announcement Appendix E. The initial period of performance runs from Nov. 4, 2026, through May 3, 2027, with additional priced options to continue work through 2029.
Marketplace integration and fleet retirement
The firm-fixed-price contracts give NASA the option to provide additional funding up to the award limit to advance work from initial concept development and risk reduction to an in-orbit flight demonstration. NASA aims to acquire end-to-end solutions that include space, ground, launch, operations, and integration elements as one of many customers in the commercial marketplace.
Facilitated through the Space Communications and Navigation program's Communications Services Project, the effort supports NASA's decision to gradually retire the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite fleet and adopt commercial services for future missions. Ka-band services are needed for select in-orbit missions that cannot modify flight hardware or transition to non-compatible commercial services.
Key facts and where they come from
- NASA selected three companies to develop Ka-band space relay capability concepts.
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
- Astranis Space Technologies Corp. received an award with a maximum potential value of $264.3 million.
Astranis Space Technologies Corp. for $264.3 million.
- Global Enterprise Solutions Inc. received an award with a maximum potential value of $340.4 million.
Global Enterprise Solutions Inc. for $340.4 million.
- Viasat Inc. received an award with a maximum potential value of $460.9 million.
Viasat Inc. for $460.9 million.
- The initial period of performance runs from Nov. 4 through May 3, 2027.
The initial period of performance runs from Nov. 4 through May 3, 2027, with additional priced options to continue work through 2029.
