Viasat selected Rocket Lab to support its NASA
CSP program demonstrations of multi-band space-relay
capabilities
Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite
communications, today announced it selected Rocket Lab USA, Inc
(Nasdaq: RKLB), a leading launch and space systems company, to
support Viasat’s hybrid space communications networks
demonstrations by producing a spacecraft bus and providing mission
operation support. The demonstrations will make evident Viasat’s
portfolio of multi-band, space-based relay communication services
in support of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space missions with substantial
flexibility in managing data, with lower data latency and higher
throughput in real time.
The demonstrations are part of Viasat’s work across two awards,
totaling $80 million, under NASA’s Communications Services Project
(CSP), which is evaluating commercial satellite communications
services and technologies to support NASA near-Earth communications
requirements as it sunsets the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
System (TDRSS).
LEO satellites typically require direct line-of-sight to a
ground station to communicate, introducing significant data latency
into the mission operations. Viasat’s Ka- and L-band relay
solutions are designed to address this challenge with near
real-time, low-data latency communications. The Real-Time Space
Relay (RTSR) space-qualified Ka-band terminal will use Viasat’s
high-capacity Ka-band network of satellites in geostationary orbit
(GEO) to enable LEO operators on-demand access to critical mission
data. The InCommand system will use Viasat’s global L-band network
to provide real-time telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C)
operations at any point in the spacecraft’s orbit. Rocket Lab will
also provide a new L-band radio for InCommand called Frontier,
which will support demonstrations of various TT&C
applications.
Scheduled to launch in early 2026, the demonstration mission
will also include direct-to-ground communications through Viasat’s
Real-Time Earth (RTE) Ground-Station-as-a-Service for S-, X-, and
Ka-bands. All transports will be integrated through Viasat’s
Integrated Space Access Network (ISAN) to show the benefits of
adaptable transport, giving LEO operators the ability to access
data while balancing network availability, cost, and time-sensitive
applications.
“We are proud to support NASA with this critically needed
real-time space relay communications capability and excited about
our continuing partnership with Rocket Lab to support Viasat’s
growing space missions portfolio,” said Michael Maughan, Vice
President of Space and Mission Systems, Viasat Government Systems.
“From Earth observation and scientific missions to supporting
defense operations, we designed our space relay services to be a
highly flexible, cost effective and scalable solution for both
government and commercial LEO operators to transport data based on
application and mission needs.”
Rocket Lab Vice President of Space Systems, Brad Clevenger,
said: “Rocket Lab spacecraft are built on configurable,
high-performance subsystems based on constellation-class
manufacturing. By providing a configurable platform that can be
tailored to suit even the most complex missions, our customers can
focus on their own novel hardware and services and leave the
development and operation of the spacecraft to us. We look forward
to supporting Viasat on the NASA CSP mission, as it will also add
responsive satellite communications capabilities to our
configurable platform.”
The Rocket Lab spacecraft will provide the power,
communications, propulsion, and attitude control for the mission
demonstration. Rocket Lab will incorporate its own satellite
components and sub-systems into the spacecraft including star
trackers, reaction wheels, solar panels, S-band radios, flight
software and ground software, and the new L-band radio in
development for the future InCommand service.
Visit the Viasat website for more information and background on
Viasat’s intersatellite communications service.
About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone
and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24
countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers,
businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate
and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global
communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure,
affordable, fast connections to positively impact people's lives
anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while
building a sustainable future in space. In May 2023, Viasat
completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams,
technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new
global communications partner. Learn more at www.viasat.com, the
Viasat News Room or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X
or YouTube.
Copyright © 2024 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat, the
Viasat logo and the Viasat Signal are registered trademarks in the
U.S. and in other countries of Viasat, Inc. All other product or
company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only
and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
About Rocket Lab
Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with
an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable
launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, and
on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier, and more
affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach,
California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small
orbital launch vehicle, the Photon satellite platform, and the
Company is developing the large Neutron launch vehicle for
constellation deployment. Since its first orbital launch in January
2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second
most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered 177
satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations,
enabling operations in national security, scientific research,
space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and
communications. Rocket Lab’s Photon spacecraft platform has been
selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as
the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three
launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a
private orbital launch site located in New Zealand and a third
launch pad in Virginia.www.rocketlabusa.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are
subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of
1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking
statements include, among others, statements about Viasat’s
agreement with Rocket Lab; the features, expected benefits and
performance of Viasat's Real-Time Space Relay service; the
InCommand system capability through the L-band network; the
features of the high-capacity Viasat satellite constellation in
geostationary orbit; the development of the Ka-band terminal to
enable LEO operators access to the Viasat network for data
transfer; and the timing of the Rocket Lab mission and in-space
demonstrations. Readers are cautioned that actual results could
differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results
to differ include: our ability to realize the anticipated benefits
of the Viasat high-capacity Ka-band GEO satellites and any future
satellite we may construct or acquire; construction, launch and
operation of satellites, including the effect of any anomaly,
operational failure or degradation in satellite performance;
contractual problems, product defects, manufacturing issues or
delays, regulatory issues, technologies not being developed
according to anticipated schedules, or that do not perform
according to expectations; delays in approving U.S. government
budgets and cuts in government defense expenditures; and increased
competition and other factors affecting the government and defense
sectors generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors
contained in Viasat's SEC filings available at www.sec.gov,
including Viasat's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only
as of the date on which they are made. Viasat undertakes no
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for
any reason.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240307206562/en/
Viasat, Inc. Contacts Dan Bleier, Public Relations,
Viasat Government, +1 (202) 383-5074, daniel.bleier@viasat.com
Peter Lopez, Investor Relations, +1 (760) 476-2633,
IR@viasat.com
Rocket Lab Contacts Media Relations: Murielle Baker,
media@rocketlabusa.com Investor Relations: Colin Canfield,
investors@rocketlabusa.com
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