Three Firms Compete to Replace NASA's Relay Satellites
NASA is gradually retiring its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite fleet and is funding commercial Ka-band concepts, with work at the concept-development stage.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Space
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NASA selected Astranis Space Technologies Corp., Global Enterprise Solutions Inc., and Viasat Inc. to develop Ka-band space relay capability concepts under firm-fixed-price contracts. The awards are at the concept-development stage, with NASA holding options to fund advancement toward an in-orbit flight demonstration.
Why it matters
NASA is gradually retiring its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite fleet and shifting to commercial services for communications relay. Ka-band links are needed for select in-orbit missions that cannot feasibly modify their flight hardware to work with non-compatible commercial services.
The awards are firm-fixed-price contracts under the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-3 Broad Agency Announcement Appendix E, with maximum potential values of $264.3 million for Astranis, $340.4 million for Global Enterprise Solutions, and $460.9 million for Viasat. The initial period of performance runs from November 4, 2026 through May 3, 2027, with priced options extending work through 2029.
The players
NASA
The U.S. space agency that operates the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite fleet and is moving to commercial relay services.
Astranis Space Technologies Corp.
A satellite company that builds small geostationary communications satellites and is positioned here as a Ka-band relay concept developer.
Global Enterprise Solutions Inc.
A contractor selected for a Ka-band space relay concept award with a maximum potential value of $340.4 million.
Viasat Inc.
A satellite communications company with a broad satellite broadband and government networking portfolio, selected for the largest maximum award in this group.
The details
NASA is seeking end-to-end solutions spanning space, ground, launch, operations, and integration elements for Ka-band relay service. Ka-band is a high-frequency radio band used for fast data links between spacecraft and ground or relay stations. The awards let NASA add funding up to each award limit to move a concept from development to an in-orbit demonstration, and the work runs through the agency's SCaN program Communications Services Project. SCaN is NASA's Space Communications and Navigation program.
Timeline
November 4, 2026: NASA selected the three companies for the Ka-band relay awards.
May 3, 2027: The initial period of performance ends.
2029: Priced options for continued work end.
The Tech Race
The awards place commercial Ka-band relay concepts from Astranis, Global Enterprise Solutions, and Viasat against NASA's plan to replace its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite fleet with commercial services. The competition is at the concept stage, with each company's path to an in-orbit demonstration dependent on NASA exercising its priced options.
The awards affect spacecraft operators that depend on NASA relay links and the commercial satellite firms that may build the replacement services. The source gives no timeline for when these Ka-band services would be available to missions beyond the concept stage.
The takeaway
Watch whether NASA exercises the priced options that would move any of these Ka-band concepts toward an in-orbit flight demonstration, with the initial period ending May 3, 2027. The option decisions will show which commercial model NASA adopts as it retires the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite fleet.
What happens next
NASA's initial period of performance ends May 3, 2027, and priced options allow continued work through 2029, when NASA will decide whether to fund advancement toward an in-orbit flight demonstration.
Further reading
For the broader context on how NASA's space programs are changing, see the Space section.
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