Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) has been selected to demonstrate direct-to-Earth, forward, and return links on the Ka-band via its global ground station network in support of NASA’s groundbreaking Polylingual Experimental Terminal (PExT) technology demonstration.
The PExT Mission
Managed by NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), PExT is a first-of-its-kind, in-flight technology demonstration. It is designed to allow spacecraft to communicate seamlessly across multiple frequencies and protocols, bridging the gap between government and commercial networks.
From a single terminal, the PExT demonstration showcases various mission scenarios in Earth proximity while roaming between NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) system and three distinct commercial communications networks.
Mission Extension & Ground Support
Originally launched on July 23, the PExT mission was recently extended by 12 months to incorporate additional testing phases.
During the extended mission operations, SSC will support flight demonstrations across more than 50 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) direct-to-earth passes. This connectivity will be facilitated through SSC’s partner ground station in Weilheim, Germany, which is owned by the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
“We are proud to be one of the few networks selected for this groundbreaking NASA demonstration, aiming to prove interoperability across multiple ground assets,” said Dan Narey, Business Development Director at SSC. “This addresses a whole new market segment, not least by enabling post-launch service additions. Our ground stations will ensure a reliable link between Earth and space.”
Transition to Commercial-First Communications
The PExT technology demonstration is a critical component of NASA’s long-term strategy to modernize near-Earth space communications. By proving the viability of “polylingual” terminals that can switch between providers, the mission supports NASA’s plan to retire the TDRS constellation and transition toward a commercial-first approach for near-Earth services by 2031.
