NASA Seeks Industry Partners for New Ka-Band Space Relay to Replace Aging TDRS System
NASA is preparing to partner with industry on a new Ka-band relay system to ensure continuous space communications as the TDRS network declines.
NASA plans to release a Broad Agency Announcement under its NextSTEP-3 program for Project NEXUS, a Ka-band backward-compatible relay that will provide end-to-end communication services including the spacecraft, ground stations, launch, integration, and operations. This comes as the long-serving Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRS) continues to age, with the goal of maintaining reliable connectivity for future space missions. Full details are available at https://www.nasa.gov/general/nextstep-3-e-network-extension-for-user-continuity-and-sustainability-nexus-ka-band-backward-compatible-relay-broad/.
HELIX: This means future satellites and space missions will keep steady high-speed links to Earth, which could quietly improve everyday things like weather forecasts, GPS accuracy, and global internet access for regular people in the years ahead.
Sources (1)
- [1]NextSTEP-3 E: Network Extension for User Continuity and Sustainability (NEXUS) Ka-Band Backward-Compatible Relay Broad(https://www.nasa.gov/general/nextstep-3-e-network-extension-for-user-continuity-and-sustainability-nexus-ka-band-backward-compatible-relay-broad/)