NASA selects companies for lunar communication and network studies

NASA selects companies for lunar communication and network studies
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 03, 2024

NASA has chosen Intuitive Machines of Houston and Aalyria Technologies Inc. of Livermore, California, to conduct capability studies aimed at advancing space communication and exploration technologies. These studies are intended to provide NASA with insights into industry capabilities and innovations, laying the groundwork for partnerships with commercial communications and navigation providers.

The selections were made under the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-2 (NextSTEP-2) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Appendix Q. Both companies have been awarded firm, fixed-price milestone-based contracts.

Intuitive Machines received $647,600 to work on Study Area No. 1, which focuses on lunar user terminals and network orchestration. The company will conduct state-of-the-art studies and demonstrations to develop a dual-purpose navigation and communication lunar surface user terminal. This terminal will assist in lunar surface exploration planning and ensure interoperability with future LunaNet-compatible service providers, which NASA will develop in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and other international partners.

Aalyria Technologies has been awarded $393,004 for Study Area No. 2, which involves the development of a Network Orchestration and Management System (NOMS). This study will provide NASA with critical insights on advanced systems that support integration into commercial and government communication services, particularly within NASA's Near Space Network.

NASA's Near Space Network, managed by the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, operates under the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program office within NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The network provides robust communication services for NASA missions through an interoperable architecture that integrates NASA's own systems with commercial providers.

"These awards are part of NASA's continuing effort to build commercial partnerships to help support increasingly sophisticated and high-demand space missions," said Greg Heckler, new capability lead for the SCaN Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Seamless interoperability across networks, from here on Earth to cislunar space, is an essential element of SCaN's emerging 'one network' approach. These awards will move us one step closer to realizing that future."

The studies conducted under the NextSTEP-2 Omnibus Broad Agency Announcement will support NASA's efforts to create a reliable and cost-effective set of commercial communication services, with NASA as one of many customers.