Beginning Friday, Nov. 8, the agency's legacy Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) system, which is part of the Near Space Network, will cease onboarding new missions. The system will continue to support existing projects, while upcoming missions will transition to commercial services.
"There have been tremendous advancements in commercial innovation since NASA launched its first TDRS satellite more than 40 years ago," stated Kevin Coggins, deputy associate administrator of NASA's Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program. "TDRS will continue to provide critical support for at least the next decade, but now is the time to embrace commercial services that could enhance science objectives, expand experimentation, and ultimately provide greater opportunities for discovery."
In alignment with NASA's approach to leveraging commercial partnerships for crew transport, lunar landers, and other services, the Near Space Network will capitalize on the private sector's investment in satellite communications infrastructure. This infrastructure extends to communications across various platforms, including airplanes, maritime vessels, and satellite television. The emerging space-based market for these services presents NASA with an opportunity to become a key customer, boosting the domestic space industry.
NASA's Communications Services Project is working through funded Space Act Agreements with commercial partners to develop satellite communication services that meet the agency's requirements. In 2022, the project allocated $278.5 million to six U.S. companies to advance space relay communication capabilities:
- Inmarsat Government Inc.
- Kuiper Government Solutions LLC
- SES Government Solutions
- Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX)
- Telesat U.S. Services LLC
- Viasat Incorporated
Successful demonstrations of commercial space-based communication services will involve comprehensive testing with spacecraft, covering areas such as launch support, routine data transmission, terrestrial support, and contingency operations. Upon completion, these services will be available for both government and commercial clients.
Additionally, NASA is establishing non-reimbursable Space Act Agreements to collaborate with companies like Kepler Communications US Inc., sharing capability information to help grow the U.S. satellite communications market.
The goal is to integrate space-based commercial communications into the Near Space Network by 2031, ensuring robust support for future NASA missions as exploration efforts expand and mission complexity increases.
TDRS: A Legacy of Connectivity
While the TDRS network will not support new missions, it will continue operating for current users such as the International Space Station and the Hubble Space Telescope until the mid-2030s. Retirement timelines will depend on the health of each satellite, with the seven active TDRS satellites expected to phase out at different rates.
The TDRS program launched in 1983, with three generations of satellites deployed over 40 years. Each generation brought technological improvements, including enhanced radio frequency capabilities and automation. The original TDRS satellite, designed for a 10-year lifespan, remained operational for 26 years before being decommissioned in 2009. The most recent satellite, TDRS-13, launched on Aug. 18, 2017.
"Each astronaut conversation from the International Space Station, every picture you've seen from Hubble Space Telescope, Nobel Prize-winning science data from the COBE satellite, and much more has flowed through TDRS," said Dave Israel, Near Space Network chief architect. "The TDRS constellation has been a workhorse for the agency, enabling significant data transfer and discoveries."
Related Links
NASA Communications Services Project
Space Technology News - Applications and Research
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