NASA announced on Nov. 4, 2026, that it selected three companies to develop Ka-band space relay capability concepts compatible with current missions, aiming to maintain service for existing spacecraft without requiring changes to their onboard systems. The awards fall under the agency's Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-3 Broad Agency Announcement Appendix E and are firm-fixed-price contracts, with NASA holding options to add funding up to the award limit to move from concept development and risk reduction toward an in-orbit flight demonstration.

The contract awardees, with maximum potential values including all future options, are Astranis Space Technologies Corp. at $264.3 million, Global Enterprise Solutions Inc. at $340.4 million and Viasat Inc. at $460.9 million. The initial period of performance runs from Nov. 4 through May 3, 2027, with priced options to continue work through 2029.

The work is facilitated through the SCaN program's Communications Services Project and supports NASA's decision to gradually retire the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite fleet in favor of commercial services. According to NASA, Ka-band services are needed for select in-orbit missions that cannot feasibly modify flight hardware or move to non-compatible commercial services.