Space & Science
NASA Picks Three Firms for Ka-Band Relay Concepts
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File:Blue Marble Western Hemisphere.jpg / NASA images by Reto Stöckli, based on data from NASA and NOAA. Instrument: Terra - MODIS / Earth Observatory: Twin Blue Marbles / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain / https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blue_Marble_Western_Hemisphere.jpgSource pageNASA selected three companies on Wednesday to perform work to develop Ka-band space relay capability concepts that are compatible with current missions in space, ensuring service continuity for existing spacecraft without requiring modifications to their onboard systems. Facilitated through the agency’s SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) program’s Communications Services Project, this work provides support for NASA’s decision to gradually retire the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite fleet and adopt commercial services for future missions.






