Company to provide cutting-edge connectivity for future NASA missions under a five-year agreement
Viasat (VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, has been awarded a significant role in NASA’s Near Space Network (NSN) Services contract, a program designed to bolster the agency’s direct-to-Earth (DTE) communications capabilities. Under the $4.82 billion multi-award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, Viasat joins three other commercial companies in providing advanced connectivity solutions for NASA missions. The agreement spans five years, with an option to extend for an additional five years.
Viasat will initially provide global ground segment support services, with the potential to expand its role in future mission-critical communications. The contract enables NASA to enhance its DTE services for missions ranging from low Earth orbit (LEO) to distances of up to two million kilometers from Earth. As part of the initiative, Viasat’s Defense and Advanced Technologies (DAT) business will deliver cutting-edge connectivity solutions that aim to modernize and expand NASA’s near-space communication infrastructure.
The company’s efforts will be powered by the Viasat Real-Time Earth (RTE) Ground-Segment-as-a-Service (GSaaS) network. This state-of-the-art platform leverages a hybrid network across six continents, capable of multi-gigabit per second downlinks, ensuring resilient and high-throughput satellite-to-ground communications. By teaming with ATLAS Space Operations and the Alaska Satellite Facility, Viasat will integrate technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud-based optimization to enhance efficiency, scalability, and reliability.
In 2023, NASA reported that 36% of its DTE services were fulfilled by commercial providers, signaling an opportunity for growth in this collaboration. Viasat’s capabilities aim to help NASA achieve its goal of fully utilizing commercial DTE services for near-space missions, significantly improving data downlink opportunities and the timely delivery of mission-critical information.
“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. “Our collaboration with ATLAS Space Operations and the Alaska Satellite Facility equips NASA with a cutting-edge communications solution, offering superior performance, enhanced efficiencies, and cost-effectiveness compared to legacy systems.”
This contract further underscores Viasat’s role as a key partner in advancing NASA’s communication capabilities, paving the way for more seamless and efficient space exploration missions.
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