Norway’s Kongsberg Satellite Services and the Swedish Space Corporation are among four companies selected by NASA to support the expansion of its Near Space Network’s commercial direct-to-Earth mission-critical communication services. The combined maximum value of all the service contracts awarded is $4.82 billion (€4.63 billion).
The Near Space Network is NASA’s communication infrastructure that provides direct-to-Earth data transmission and tracking support for spacecraft operating in low-Earth orbit, lunar orbit, and other near-space regions up to 1.2 million miles (2 million kilometers).
According to a 20 December press release, Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) received two task order awards to support science missions in low-Earth orbit and provide additional capacity for NASA’s Lunar Exploration Ground Segment, allowing NASA to alleviate demand on its Deep Space Network. The U.S. arm of the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), SSC Space U.S., also received two task order awards to support science missions in low-Earth orbit and meet requirements for missions in unique, highly elliptical orbits.
“I’m very pleased that NASA selected KSAT as their partner and provider of ground communication services, continuing a legacy of 25 years of trust in supporting science missions in low-Earth orbit,” said Rolf Skatteboe, KSAT President and CEO. To fulfil its task order awards, KSAT will utilize its KSAT Lunar service, a dedicated antenna network for lunar communications that the company first announced in March 2022.
SSC has only shared a brief statement on its LinkedIn page, expressing excitement about continuing its “long-term relationship with NASA.”
In addition to the European contingent, U.S. companies Intuitive Machines and Viasat received a total of three task awards.
All seven task order awards were structured as firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, and indefinite-quantity contracts. The contracts cover the period between February 2025 and September 2029, with provisions for an additional five-year period that would extend the contracts through 30 September 2034.
