Technology / Other
NASA selects three firms to develop satellite relay services
The contracts include optional later phases, so their headline values are not immediate spending.
Status: source-checked.
NASA selected Astranis, Global Enterprise Solutions and Viasat for development of Ka-band satellite relay services, the agency said in a Nov. 4 contract release. Astranis separately announced its selection Friday.
According to NASA, the maximum potential contract values, including future options, are $264.3 million for Astranis, $340.4 million for Global Enterprise Solutions and $460.9 million for Viasat. Those figures are ceilings, not immediate payments.
The initial development and risk-reduction period runs from Nov. 4 through May 3, 2027, with priced options through 2029. The work aims to maintain service for existing spacecraft as NASA gradually retires its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite fleet, without requiring changes to spacecraft hardware.
What we know / what we don't
What we know
- NASA selected Astranis, Global Enterprise Solutions and Viasat for development of Ka-band satellite relay services, the agency said in a Nov. 4 contract release. Astranis separately announced its selection Friday.
- According to NASA, the maximum potential contract values, including future options, are $264.3 million for Astranis, $340.4 million for Global Enterprise Solutions and $460.9 million for Viasat. Those figures are ceilings, not immediate payments.
- The initial development and risk-reduction period runs from Nov. 4 through May 3, 2027, with priced options through 2029. The work aims to maintain service for existing spacecraft as NASA gradually retires its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite fleet, without requiring changes to spacecraft hardware.
What we don't know
- Amount initially obligated is not specified in the NASA release; maximum values include future options.
The source record