Agency Moves to Replace Aging Relay Satellites with Commercial Services
NASA is seeking proposals for commercial communications services to replace its aging fleet of relay satellites. The agency’s Project NEXUS aims to develop a commercial Ka-band satellite data relay service to replace the existing Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. NASA plans to select multiple companies for at least Phase 1 of the project, with the goal of providing backwards-compatible relay services in Ka-band. This effort is part of the agency’s broader Commercial Services Project, as reported by SpaceNews.