CARLSBAD, Calif. - Viasat Inc. has been selected by NASA to provide direct-to-Earth communications support for space missions under the agency’s Near Space Network Services contract. The five-year agreement, with an option to extend another five years, carries a total potential value of $4.82 billion.
Viasat is one of four companies awarded task orders under the multi-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract. Initially, the company will deliver ground segment support for NASA missions, with opportunities to expand its role in the future.
The contract is aimed at bolstering communications for NASA missions operating from low Earth orbit to as far as two million kilometers away. Viasat’s Defense and Advanced Technologies division will contribute direct-to-Earth connectivity, part of NASA’s goal to increase reliance on commercial providers for near-space communications.
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Viasat will use its Real-Time Earth ground network to support the initiative, providing a high-throughput, globally distributed communications solution. The network, capable of multi-gigabit per second downlinks, operates across six continents and integrates artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud-based optimization.
Viasat has partnered with ATLAS Space Operations and the Alaska Satellite Facility to deliver these services. ATLAS will contribute its Freedom Ground Software and Global Federated Network, while the Alaska Satellite Facility provides additional satellite ground support.
“Viasat is thrilled to be selected by NASA to support NSN Services for critical mission needs,” said Kent Leka, vice president and general manager of antenna systems at Viasat. “From its inception, the Viasat RTE ground service was designed to be a high-throughput, scalable, and automated ground service for supporting the most critical and data-intensive missions in space.”
The partnership aims to offer NASA a modern, cost-effective communications solution that Future upgrades to Viasat’s network include integration with advanced space relay services for L-band and Ka-band communications. The contract supports NASA’s transition away from its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS), which will no longer onboard new users. Moving forward, the Near Space Network will rely on commercial relay services and its existing direct-to-Earth capabilities.
This initiative reflects NASA’s broader strategy of incorporating commercial solutions to meet its communications and navigation needs. By expanding the use of commercial providers, the agency aims to streamline the transfer of data for current and future space missions.
