Summary
NASA selected Viasat, Inc. for phase 1 of its Network Extension for User Continuity and Sustainability (NEXUS) initiative. The award was made through the NextSTEP-3 Omnibus Broad Agency Announcement, and the work addresses how current users of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) fleet can maintain service as NASA gradually retires that fleet.
NEXUS sits within NASA's Communications Services Project, which supports the agency's plan to shift near-Earth space communications services toward the commercial sector. Viasat's involvement extends its existing collaboration with NASA's Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) division across several programs. Including future phases, the maximum potential contract value for Viasat is $460.9 million.
Viasat's Space and Mission Systems team, within the Defense and Advanced Technologies segment, will refine the design and plans for an end-to-end operational space architecture. The proposed solution combines a small geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) relay satellite infrastructure, a supporting ground segment, and the integration, launch, and operations needed to deliver assured service on demand. It is meant to provide Ka-band relay connectivity to legacy TDRS missions.
Viasat was competitively awarded a firm-fixed-price contract as one of three commercial awardees for phase 1, which focuses on research demonstrations aimed at accelerating commercial Ka-band space relay capabilities. The effort is intended to help NASA evaluate commercial options that can provide continuity for current TDRS users while supporting future mission requirements for a minimum of 15 years.
“NASA's vision for NEXUS reflects a significant evolution toward commercially provided space communications services,” said John Reeves, Vice President of Space and Mission Systems, Viasat Government. “Our satellite networking and end-to-end system design expertise will enable us to provide a resilient Ka-band relay capability that supports both legacy and future NASA missions while providing a clear path to advanced communication relay services beyond TDRS.”
Future award phases are expected over the next three years for the development and demonstration of a high-performance, backward-compatible relay service spanning space, ground, network, launch, integration, operations, and service-management elements.
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