NASA awards 1 billion dollars for commercial space communications relay capability

NASA awarded firm-fixed-price contracts totaling up to 1.07 billion dollars to Viasat, SES, and Astranis Space Technologies on Nov. 4, 2026. SatNews reported that the selected companies will develop commercial Ka-band space relay capability concepts. GovCon Wire reported that the three contracts are worth a total of 1.1 billion dollars. [1][5][8]

The procurement is administered under the Space Communications and Navigation program's Communications Services Project, SatNews reported. The award serves as a critical phase in a multi-year effort to transition low Earth orbit mission communications to private multi-orbit networks. [1]

The tracking and data relay satellite system was originally designed to replace a worldwide network of ground stations. The system provides communications to and from user platforms such as satellites, aircraft, balloons, the International Space Station, and remote bases in Antarctica, Wikipedia notes. [1][10]

As FTMQ Space reported earlier, the individual awards comprise 460.9 million dollars for Viasat, 340.4 million dollars for SES, and 264.3 million dollars for Astranis. The initiative will eventually allow NASA to retire its aging government-owned Tracking and Data Relay Satellite fleet. [1][13]