SpaceX, Amazon Among NASA Picks for Next-Gen Space Comms Network
NASA needs to replace its aging near-Earth satellite communications network, and the space agency has just selected six American companies to help it do just that.
Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) is the system NASA owns, operates, and relies on for near-Earth communications. TDRS satellites were launched in the 1980s and 1990s in a bid to offer better communications with spacecraft for longer, while also increasing how much data could be sent back to Earth. However, TDRS is nearing a point where it needs to be decommissioned, and hence the Communications Service Project (CSP) was established to find a replacement.
After a year of feasibility evaluations, the CSP has now made $278.5 million of funding available, which will be split between the following six companies:
Inmarsat Government Inc.
Kuiper Government Solutions (KGS) LLC (Amazon)
SES Government Solutions
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX)
Telesat U.S. Services LLC
Viasat Incorporated
Each company has its own approach to the space communications problem that aims to "lower costs, increase flexibility, and improve performance for a broad range of missions." They have until 2025 to prove their solution works reliably and will be cost-effective for future missions. Each system must provide "new high-rate and high-capacity two-way communications" as a key feature.
NASA's plan is to sign multiple long-term contracts once the 2025 demonstrations are complete, and then have the new communications networks operational for 2030. At that point, TDRS can be completely decommissioned and NASA can focus more of its attention on deep space exploration and science missions.
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