NASA awards relay contracts to Astranis, Global and Viasat
NASA says the contracts have maximum potential values, including all options, of $264.3 million for Astranis, $340.4 million for Global Enterprise Solutions and $460.9 million for Viasat. Initial work will develop concepts for relays compatible with spacecraft already in orbit.
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Sole source: NASA says it awarded contracts on 4 November 2026, to Astranis Space Technologies, Global Enterprise Solutions and Viasat for development work, not operational communications services, to develop concepts and reduce risks for Ka-band space relays compatible with existing spacecraft. Ka-band refers to a range of radio frequencies used for communications.
The work supports NASA’s gradual retirement of its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite fleet. NASA announced in 2024 that, from 8 November of that year, the system would support only existing missions, while future commercial services would support new ones.
NASA says some missions already in orbit cannot feasibly change their flight hardware or switch to incompatible commercial services. Compatible relays are intended to keep those spacecraft communicating without changes to their onboard systems.
What the contracts cover
NASA’s announcement did not state how much it initially obligated to each company.
NASA says the firm-fixed-price contracts were awarded under Appendix E of the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-3 Broad Agency Announcement. They allow NASA to provide additional funding up to each award’s limit to advance from initial concept development and risk reduction to a possible in-orbit flight demonstration. The agency’s Communications Services Project, part of its Space Communications and Navigation program, is facilitating the work.
| Company | Maximum value |
|---|---|
| Astranis Space Technologies | $264.3 million |
| Global Enterprise Solutions | $340.4 million |
| Viasat | $460.9 million |
From concepts to possible demonstrations
NASA says the initial work runs through 3 May 2027, and it can exercise priced options to fund further work through 2029, potentially advancing the concepts to flight demonstrations in orbit.
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