Viasat selected Rocket Lab to support its NASA
CSP program demonstrations of multi-band space-relay
capabilities
CARLSBAD,
Calif., and LONG BEACH,
Calif., March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/viasat-and-rocket-lab-partner-to-showcase-on-demand-low-latency-data-relay-services-for-leo-satellites-302082257.html
SOURCE Viasat, Inc.