CARLSBAD, Calif. — Satellite communications provider Viasat, Inc. has been selected by NASA for Phase 1 of the Network Extension for User Continuity and Sustainability (NEXUS) initiative under a contract with a maximum potential value of $460.9 million, the company announced on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026.
Awarded under the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-3 (NextSTEP-3) Omnibus Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), the firm-fixed-price contract tasks Viasat with developing commercial Ka-band space relay services for near-Earth missions.
Commercial Relay Transition and TDRS Retirement Strategy
The award forms a key effort under NASA’s Communications Services Project (CSP), supporting the agency’s transition from government-owned orbital communications to commercial networks. With the legacy Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) fleet approaching retirement, NASA is procuring commercial capacity to guarantee service continuity for at least 15 years, an operational shift examined in earlier plans where NASA sought commercial relays to replace aging TDRSS infrastructure.
The NEXUS award follows the broader procurement wherein NASA awarded $1.07 billion in Ka-band relay contracts across three industry teams. It also builds on Viasat’s active flight trials after the company launched the Maxwell satellite to demonstrate space-to-space links.
Small GEO Relay Architecture and Ka-Band Specifications
During Phase 1, Viasat’s Space and Mission Systems team within its Defense and Advanced Technologies segment will mature an end-to-end operational architecture to deliver Ka-band relay connectivity to legacy TDRS users:
- Space Infrastructure: Matures the design of a dedicated small geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) relay satellite constellation compatible with legacy Ka-band transponders.
- Integrated Segment: Encompasses supporting ground architecture, satellite integration, launch management, and operations to deliver assured connectivity on demand for uncrewed satellites and human spaceflight missions.
Executive Perspective and Multi-Year Roadmap
“NASA’s vision for NEXUS reflects a significant evolution toward commercially provided space communications services,” said John Reeves, Vice President of Space and Mission Systems at Viasat Government. “Our satellite networking and end-to-end system design expertise will enable us to provide a resilient Ka-band relay capability that supports both legacy and future NASA missions.”
Subsequent contract phases over the next three years will fund the development, launch, and flight demonstration of the high-performance relay network, validating commercial space communications ahead of formal TDRS decommissioning.
