An artist making of a NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) in orbit. TDRS offers an important communications connect in between ground facilities and the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope and a host of Earth science satellites. The firm would decommission TDRS to enable business providers to support future near-Earth communication objective requirements. Credit: NASA
On April 20, 2022, NASA picked six American satellite communications (SATCOM) companies to begin establishing and demonstrating near-Earth space communication abilities that might support future firm missions.
As it moves to decommission its near-Earth satellite fleet, NASA has actually been investigating the viability of utilizing commercial SATCOM networks for near-Earth operations for more than a year. This method would allow NASA to dedicate more time and resources to deep space expedition and science missions.
The total value of the Communications Services Project (CSP) sponsored contracts for the firm is $278.5 million. Throughout the five-year research and presentation period, NASA anticipates each business to match or exceed agency contributions, totaling more than $1.5 billion in cost-share financial investment.
” We are following the firms proven method established through commercial freight and business team services. By using funded Space Act Agreements, were able to promote market to demonstrate end-to-end capability leading to operational service,” said Eli Naffah, CSP project manager at NASAs Glenn Research. “The flight demonstrations are threat decrease activities that will develop numerous capabilities and will offer functional ideas, efficiency validation, and acquisition models needed to prepare the future acquisition of industrial services for each class of NASA missions.”
Each business has proposed a technical method to decrease expenses, boost flexibility, and enhance performance for a broad range of missions. The agreements produce chances to establish innovative solutions that could possibly meet NASAs future mission requirements while supporting each businesss organization design, future consumers, and a growing domestic industrial SATCOM market.
The financed companies are:
An artist rendering of a NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) in orbit. The firm would decommission TDRS to make it possible for industrial companies to support future near-Earth communication objective requirements. Credit: NASA
By utilizing financed Space Act Agreements, were able to stimulate industry to demonstrate end-to-end capability leading to functional service,” said Eli Naffah, CSP project manager at NASAs Glenn Research. “The flight demonstrations are risk decrease activities that will establish multiple abilities and will provide operational principles, performance validation, and acquisition models needed to prepare the future acquisition of business services for each class of NASA objectives.”
Inmarsat Government Inc. of Reston, Virginia, has actually been awarded $28.6 million. Inmarsats proposed technique shows an industrial radio frequency geostationary orbiting L-band relay network for low-rate SATCOM services to spacecraft and launch lorries for routine missions, contingency operations, launch and climb, and early operations stage communications.
Telesat U.S. Services LLC of Arlington, Virginia, has been granted $30.65 million. Telesats proposed method demonstrates commercial radio frequency geostationary orbiting C-band and low-Earth orbiting Ka-band relay networks for high- and- low-rate communications services to spacecraft in low-Earth orbit for routine objectives.
Area Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, California, has been granted $69.95 million. SpaceXs proposed technique shows a commercial optical low-Earth orbiting relay network for high-rate SATCOM services to spacecraft in low-Earth orbit for regular missions, contingency operations, launch and ascent, and early operations stage communications.
Viasat Incorporated of Carlsbad, California, has been granted $53.3 million. Viasats proposed approach shows a commercial radio frequency geostationary orbiting Ka-band relay network for high- and low-rate interactions services to spacecraft in low-Earth orbit for regular launch and missions.
SES Government Solutions of Reston, Virginia, has actually been awarded $28.96 million. SESs proposed technique shows business radio frequency geostationary orbiting C-band and medium-Earth orbiting Ka-band relay networks for high- and- low-rate SATCOM services to spacecraft in low-Earth orbit for regular objectives, contingency operations, launch and ascent, and early operations stage interactions.
Kuiper Government Solutions (KGS) LLC of Arlington, Virginia, has actually been granted $67 million. Kuipers proposed technique shows a business optical low-Earth orbiting relay network for high- and- low-rate SATCOM services to spacecraft in low-Earth orbit for routine missions, contingency operations, and early operations phase communications.?
Each company will complete technology advancement and in-space demonstrations by 2025 to prove their proposed solution will deliver robust, reputable, and cost-efficient mission-oriented operations, consisting of the ability for new high-rate and high-capacity two-way interactions. NASA means to seek numerous long-lasting contracts to obtain services for near-Earth operations by 2030, while phasing out NASA owned and ran systems.
The CSP is managed by NASA Glenn in Cleveland under the instructions of the Space Communications and Navigation Program, located at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
