{"id":73647,"date":"2021-03-15T20:09:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T00:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-467738"},"modified":"2023-09-28T11:43:43","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T15:43:43","slug":"nasas-commercial-communications-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/somd\/space-communications-navigation-program\/nasas-commercial-communications-services\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA\u2019s Commercial Communications Services"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-article-hero-header nasa-gb-align-full bg-carbon-90 width-full maxw-full color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-hero-header\">\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full maxw-full minh-tablet grid-container minh-tablet flex-column padding-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper display-flex flex-direction-column\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-y-9 padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-3 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"z-400 grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-7 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-spacesuit-white margin-bottom-2\">12 Min Read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"heading-41 line-height-md color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA\u2019s Commercial Communications Services\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"661\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_STGT_SGLTs-at-Dawn.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"Several antennas point in varying directions. The Sun is rising behind a mountain range in the background, casting an orange glow across the antennas.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 0% 41%; object-position: 0% 41%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_STGT_SGLTs-at-Dawn.jpg 3293w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_STGT_SGLTs-at-Dawn.jpg?resize=300,129 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_STGT_SGLTs-at-Dawn.jpg?resize=768,330 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_STGT_SGLTs-at-Dawn.jpg?resize=1024,441 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_STGT_SGLTs-at-Dawn.jpg?resize=1536,661 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_STGT_SGLTs-at-Dawn.jpg?resize=2048,881 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_STGT_SGLTs-at-Dawn.jpg?resize=400,172 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_STGT_SGLTs-at-Dawn.jpg?resize=600,258 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_STGT_SGLTs-at-Dawn.jpg?resize=900,387 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_STGT_SGLTs-at-Dawn.jpg?resize=1200,516 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_STGT_SGLTs-at-Dawn.jpg?resize=2000,861 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"padding-y-3 padding-x-3\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"hds-caption maxw-mobile desktop:padding-x-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0 color-carbon-30\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div><figcaption>The Near Space Network Second Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) Ground Terminal at the White Sands Complex in New Mexico.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-credits color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Credits: <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>NASA<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p>NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/space-operations-mission-directorate\/space-communications-and-navigation-scan-program\/\" data-type=\"topic\" data-id=\"193424\">Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program<\/a> seeks to engage commercial services for NASA\u2019s missions, rather than continuing to build, maintain, and operate its own systems. From its inception in 1958, whenever NASA needed to receive data from one of its Earth observing satellites or talk to its astronauts in orbit, it used equipment and services it had needed to develop and build itself. Over time, however, commercial enterprise acquired the proficiencies necessary to reliably and securely communicate with objects in low Earth orbit (LEO), services NASA is now pursuing to purchase as any other near-Earth space customer. For more information on the transition to commercial services for mission communication, please see the SCaN Commercial Communications Services Division (CCSD)<a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/heo\/scan\/services\/nasas_commercial_communications_services\/FAQ\"> FAQ for Commercial Services Strategy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sts_98_atlantis_attiving_iss001-362-005.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1485\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sts_98_atlantis_attiving_iss001-362-005.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"An aerial view of Space Shuttle Atlantis with the Earth's atmosphere below.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sts_98_atlantis_attiving_iss001-362-005.jpg 2446w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sts_98_atlantis_attiving_iss001-362-005.jpg?resize=300,217 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sts_98_atlantis_attiving_iss001-362-005.jpg?resize=768,557 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sts_98_atlantis_attiving_iss001-362-005.jpg?resize=1024,742 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sts_98_atlantis_attiving_iss001-362-005.jpg?resize=1536,1113 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sts_98_atlantis_attiving_iss001-362-005.jpg?resize=2048,1485 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sts_98_atlantis_attiving_iss001-362-005.jpg?resize=400,290 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sts_98_atlantis_attiving_iss001-362-005.jpg?resize=600,435 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sts_98_atlantis_attiving_iss001-362-005.jpg?resize=900,652 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sts_98_atlantis_attiving_iss001-362-005.jpg?resize=1200,870 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sts_98_atlantis_attiving_iss001-362-005.jpg?resize=2000,1450 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Space Shuttle Atlantis<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>History<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although NASA has always partnered with industry, the nature of that relationship is changing. Historically, NASA would design an exquisite system or spacecraft, select a commercial contractor to build it, oversee its construction in detail while sometimes changing its requirements, then own and operate the result. The government was the sole buyer\/owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After the retirement of the space shuttle in 2011, NASA needed a way to get cargo and crew to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/\" data-type=\"topic\" data-id=\"179420\">International Space Station<\/a>. In cooperation with its international partners, NASA had spent more than a dozen years and $100 billion building this football-field-sized orbiting laboratory. NASA\u2019s answer to this problem started a paradigm shift. Rather than follow the process described above, the new Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Program would tell industry what NASA required to accomplish a mission safely, then have companies submit their concepts. NASA then chose the most promising plans and created a payment schedule based on their milestone accomplishments, thus ensuring that manufacturers\u2019 own funds would be dedicated to the endeavor. Once all milestones had been reached and the vehicles certified, the manufacturers would deliver cargo for NASA\u2014and any other customer the company could engage in the growing LEO commercial marketplace. Rather than building, owning, and operating a luxury sedan, NASA now essentially hails a taxi. The government had become one of many buyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This new paradigm has continued with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/commercial-crew-program-overview\/\" data-type=\"topic\" data-id=\"73670\">Commercial Crew Program<\/a> and beyond. NASA has made the strategic decision to foster commercial capabilities in LEO and purchase what services it needs so that it can concentrate resources on building the infrastructure needed to explore, live, work, and produce beyond the near-Earth environment. Communications is a critical part of that infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dragon_cygnus_iss060e022993large.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dragon_cygnus_iss060e022993large.jpg?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"SpaceX's Dragon and Northrup Grumman's Cygnus at the International Space Station.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 47% 81%; object-position: 47% 81%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dragon_cygnus_iss060e022993large.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dragon_cygnus_iss060e022993large.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dragon_cygnus_iss060e022993large.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dragon_cygnus_iss060e022993large.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dragon_cygnus_iss060e022993large.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dragon_cygnus_iss060e022993large.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dragon_cygnus_iss060e022993large.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dragon_cygnus_iss060e022993large.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dragon_cygnus_iss060e022993large.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">SpaceX’s Dragon and Northrup Grumman’s Cygnus at the International Space Station.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Policies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the last decade, there have been several national policies that have supported the movement of NASA\u2019s role from purchaser of self-designed products to hirer of capable commercial services. The first of these was the National Space Policy of 2010;\u00a0one of the\u00a0goals was to, \u201cEnergize competitive domestic industries to participate in global markets and advance the development of: satellite manufacturing; satellite-based services; space launch; terrestrial applications; and increased entrepreneurship.\u201d This document also contained an entire section on Commercial Space Guidelines, which included the directive to, \u201cPurchase and use commercial space capabilities and services to the maximum practical extent when such capabilities and services are available in the marketplace and meet United States Government requirements.\u201d Also in 2010, Congress passed the last enacted NASA Authorization Act, one of whose key objectives was \u201cto sustain the capability for long-duration presence in low-Earth orbit\u2026through assisting and enabling an expanded commercial presence in, and access to, low-Earth orbit, as elements of a low-Earth orbit infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More recently, the 2018 National Space Strategy stated that, \u201cThe United States will partner with the commercial sector to ensure that American companies remain world leaders in space technology.\u201d The 2010 National Space Policy was updated in 2018, although no changes were made to the Commercial Space Guidelines. So, for the past decade it has been national policy to use commercial services to the maximum extent practicable, as evidenced by policy directives produced by the legislative branch and multiple administrations of the executive branch. This endeavor is here to stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/laser-communications-conceptual-animation.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"586\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/laser-communications-conceptual-animation.gif?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Artist rendition of optical communications from Mars to Earth.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Artist rendition of optical communications from Mars to Earth.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Motivations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SCaN is eager to engage with industry to take advantage of commercial advances in ground and space networks\u2014as well as the evolution of ubiquitous network services for terrestrial users\u2014and bring that capability and power to space users. Although commercial direct-to-Earth services are well-established, more complex and emerging capabilities such as space-to-space communications, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/lasercomms\/\" data-type=\"topic\" data-id=\"254405\">optical communications<\/a>, and quantum communications have yet to be well-developed commercially (or, in the case of quantum, at all). SCaN would like to create a virtuous cycle of investment and capability development between NASA, the Department of Defense, and commercial entities. This way, no single organization would bear the entire burden of developing technology from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 0 to 9. The different sectors can invest at various points along the development cycle, and nominally everyone benefits in the end. By shifting routine LEO communications services to the commercial sector and working inter-sectorally on advanced capability development, NASA can refocus its resources on deep space communications, next leaps in technology, and communication and navigation requirements of the lunar and Mars campaigns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the last several decades, industry has invested in rapidly progressing communications and networking technology; NASA wants to leverage those commercial investments to curtail the infrastructure maintenance and operational costs that currently dominate its budget. NASA would be one of many customers defraying these costs and creating a more robust commercial marketplace that provides space users with a variety of diverse services at competitive prices. The evolution of that market would also support interoperability, allowing space users to roam seamlessly between commercial services and networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/antenna_0.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/antenna_0.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A blue antenna faces to the right with a bright blue sky behind it.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/antenna_0.jpg 6000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/antenna_0.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/antenna_0.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/antenna_0.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/antenna_0.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/antenna_0.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/antenna_0.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/antenna_0.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/antenna_0.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/antenna_0.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/antenna_0.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The Near Space Network AS-2 antenna at the Alaska Satellite Facility in Fairbanks, Alaska.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Standardization<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although SCaN welcomes partnering with commercial service providers in LEO, some challenges must be addressed. One lies in the arena of communications standards, hissorically the backbone of NASA\u2019s success in the civil space community. Through the <a href=\"https:\/\/public.ccsds.org\/default.aspx\" rel=\"noopener\">Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems<\/a> (CCSDS), NASA has worked with international space agencies to create common standards that allow cross-support and interoperability. To adapt to commercial industry networks and systems, NASA SCaN will collaborate with industry partners to adopt commercial standards where feasible and eventually establish mutually beneficial standards that enable real interoperable communications between all users in space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A fitting analogy is the transition of cellular data provision from 2G to 3G and 4G. Initially, the cell phone market was fractured by multiple competing standards. Technological limitations resulted in minimal competition and high prices for end users. Eventually, phone manufacturers and mobile service providers realized the economic incentives for interoperability. They stood up the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) that resulted in the 3G and 4G standards and technologies, which expanded their market and substantially increased their revenues. This is what SCaN envisions in near-Earth space: giving users that same experience of robust and versatile communications\u2014seamless, inexpensive, and standardized. (SCaN is already considering how to take the work of the 3GPP to the Moon.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Understanding that it will take time to create and agree on standards supporting interoperability, NASA is working on user terminals that can flexibly operate at different frequencies and are \u201cmultilingual.\u201d The term \u201cmultilingual\u201d indicates the capability for the radio to communicate with different systems that may implement proprietary protocols and waveforms. These wideband and multilingual radios will allow NASA missions to access communication services from multiple providers even when providers rely on proprietary implementation approaches for services. In the long-term, NASA hopes that such terminals could be leveraged by other non-NASA users and even produced commercially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cybersecurity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cybersecurity is an ever-growing concern for U.S. infrastructure, including SCaN\u2019s space networks. Some topics NASA must address during this transition include co-location of radio-frequency equipment, sharing of equipment, shared data\/network lines, data storage and transport, and overall network reliability and resiliency. SCaN understands industry is moving further toward cloud services and is interested in exploring that capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Spectrum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another challenge to commercialization is spectrum regulation. SCaN works within the appropriate national and international fora, but there is a long road ahead to ensure that NASA\u2019s missions will be able to use spectra currently allocated for commercial fixed and mobile satellite services. Those allocations need updating through international agreement to allow space-to-space use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/voyager_1_3_spacecraft.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"601\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/voyager_1_3_spacecraft.jpg?w=768\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"The Voyager spacecraft showcasing the Golden Record.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/voyager_1_3_spacecraft.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/voyager_1_3_spacecraft.jpg?resize=300,235 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/voyager_1_3_spacecraft.jpg?resize=400,313 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/voyager_1_3_spacecraft.jpg?resize=600,470 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The Voyager spacecraft showcasing the Golden Record.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Capability Gaps<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The potential for capability gaps will require diligent monitoring. NASA missions require different services\u2014e.g., data rates, reliability, and availability of network service for a launch or a human spaceflight mission will be different than a small explorer class Earth science mission. SCaN must determine what portion of that diverse capability need can be supported by the commercial sector. If a current or future mission has no matching commercial solution, NASA must determine how to mitigate or accept any impacts to mission capability. The greater number of commercial providers SCaN can buy services from, the more robust the set of capabilities and the lower the risk for NASA\u2019s missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to supporting NASA legacy missions, the never-ending advance of technology presents its own, unique set of challenges for commercial providers. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/voyager.jpl.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Voyager 1 and Voyager 2<\/a> were launched in 1977 and are still operational. The technology on those spacecraft is more than 40 years old, and SCaN\u2019s Deep Space Network (DSN) is currently the only network in the world that can communicate with them. Voyager is a deep space mission, though many of NASA\u2019s missions are long duration and could require long-term commercial support. Commercial technology is ever advancing, and one of NASA\u2019s risks in moving to commercial services is losing legacy mission support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Navigation Gaps<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Currently, SCaN\u2019s networks contribute radiometric data that is used in navigation solutions. For commercial vendors, that service isn\u2019t standard. This is a major shift for NASA mission users. In a worst-case scenario\u2014perhaps a spacecraft tumbling in space\u2014the current Near Space Network has the capability to help resolve the situation. NASA\u2019s missions can and often do use GPS (or other Global Navigation Satellite Systems \u2013 GNSS), but relying on it exclusively simply introduces another layer of risk. SCaN is developing a hybrid of GNSS and other sensor capabilities\/services in which commercial partners could collaborate or use to meet their navigation needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-article\/pre-dawn-launch-crew-6\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"657\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/52720913251_40e93d81b5_o.jpg?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"In this five-minute long exposure, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/52720913251_40e93d81b5_o.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/52720913251_40e93d81b5_o.jpg?resize=300,189 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/52720913251_40e93d81b5_o.jpg?resize=768,485 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/52720913251_40e93d81b5_o.jpg?resize=1024,646 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/52720913251_40e93d81b5_o.jpg?resize=400,252 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/52720913251_40e93d81b5_o.jpg?resize=600,379 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/52720913251_40e93d81b5_o.jpg?resize=900,568 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carries the company’s Dragon spacecraft with NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-6 mission members aboard in this five-minute long exposure taken on Thursday, March 2, 2023.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Joel Kowsky<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Comfort Zone<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, use of commercial services will require NASA missions to move out of their comfort zones. Adapting to new technology and service paradigms can be difficult; mission planners tend to prefer heritage communications and networking systems they perceive as lower risk. Also, NASA is accustomed to having insight into and control over its network, particularly for crewed missions. SCaN understands that for a commercial network with thousands of customers, that\u2019s not a \u201cnormal\u201d mode of operation and will need to adjust accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>SCaN Commercialization Activities<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Within the Near Space Network, SCaN operates network assets providing direct-to-Earth (DTE) communications support (previously the Near Earth Network \u2013 NEN), and space-based relay communications support (previously the Space Network \u2013 SN). These capabilities have differing time horizons for shifting to commercial services. SCaN has been using ground stations owned and operated by commercial vendors for direct-to-Earth communications for decades. With the continued growth in providers and capabilities, that market is primed and ready for expanded commercialization. Commercial satellite communications, however, has been geared toward terrestrial users rather than the space-to-space relay needed for NASA\u2019s purposes, so those capabilities require maturation for space-based users. As a result, SCaN\u2019s approach to commercialization follows two coordinated, parallel tracks focusing on ground networks and space relay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Direct-to-Earth<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>SCaN has a goal of using 100% commercial ground networks for new and existing missions by 2023. Already in 2020, nearly 60% of NEN service support time was maintained by non-NASA partner ground stations. In June 2020, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to seek commercial direct-to-Earth communications services. The plan is to move forward with an acquisition in fiscal year 2021. These efforts are being coordinated by teams at GSFC, newly aligned to make these commercial efforts successful. The <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/esc.gsfc.nasa.gov\/projects\/NSN\">Near Space Network Project<\/a> (NSN)\u2014which will combine and expand the NEN and SN\u2014will be responsible for the coordination of services for missions using an array of commercial assets, and the Commercialization, Innovation, and Synergies Office will lead outreach and engagement with commercial entities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/48358585011_2edb3e5440_5k.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/48358585011_2edb3e5440_5k.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"solar array and earth\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/48358585011_2edb3e5440_5k.jpg 4928w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/48358585011_2edb3e5440_5k.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/48358585011_2edb3e5440_5k.jpg?resize=768,431 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/48358585011_2edb3e5440_5k.jpg?resize=1024,575 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/48358585011_2edb3e5440_5k.jpg?resize=1536,863 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/48358585011_2edb3e5440_5k.jpg?resize=2048,1150 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/48358585011_2edb3e5440_5k.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/48358585011_2edb3e5440_5k.jpg?resize=600,337 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/48358585011_2edb3e5440_5k.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/48358585011_2edb3e5440_5k.jpg?resize=1200,674 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/48358585011_2edb3e5440_5k.jpg?resize=2000,1123 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Space-to-Space<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most commercial satellite communications services have been designed for terrestrial or aeronautical users. Supporting space users moving at 17,000 mph will pose new, fundamental technical challenges. NASA wants to collaborate with industry to validate that commercially provided services can meet mission needs. SCaN will not be replenishing its Near Space Network satellites, so it is pursuing demonstration of commercial space-to-space relay services into which new space users can be transitioned by 2030. SCaN will be issuing an announcement to engage companies in a series of rolling demonstrations beginning in 2021 using funded Space Act Agreements. The <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www1.grc.nasa.gov\/space\/communications-services-program\/\">Communications Services Project<\/a> at Glenn Research Center is responsible for working with industry to execute these demonstrations and prepare for potential future acquisition of services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Engagement<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Engagement with industry and the public is a critical part of this effort. On October 29, 2020, SCaN hosted a virtual event called SCaN The Future that explained how its transition from provider to customer will improve every consumer\u2019s communications experience in low Earth orbit. Among the more than 400 event attendees were several hundred potential industry partners. They had their thoughtful questions answered by expert NASA panelists and provided valuable feedback to the SCaN commercialization team. NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center and NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center will host subsequent acquisition-specific virtual events. Goddard has already released a Request for Information (RFI) for lunar communications and navigation relay services as part of the LunaNet architecture, which will support the Artemis missions and a sustained presence at the Moon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a holistic effort spanning NASA\u2019s Center teams and encompassing all the moving parts\u2014from technical challenges, to understanding the business and operational perspectives of a commercial offering, to working with SCaN\u2019s user community to ensure the new commercial service provisions will meet their mission needs. The efforts currently underway are necessary to make this commercialization effort successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"NASA Space Communications and Navigation Program\u2019s Move to Commercial Communications Services\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/03MRKf95Ch0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-center nasa-button-link padding-y-1 padding-x-0 hds-module wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/somd\/space-communications-navigation-program\/commercialization-faq\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"button-primary button-primary-md link-external-true\" aria-label=\"Commercialization FAQ\">\n\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1\">Commercialization FAQ<\/span>\n\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"button-primary-circle\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-about-the-author nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-6 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-about-the-author\"><div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-x-0 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black padding-top-3\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h3 class=\"heading-14\">About the Author<\/h3><\/div><\/div><div class=\"grid-row grid-container padding-x-0 maxw-widescreen\"><div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-9\"><div class=\"grid-row\"><div class=\"hds-author-thumbnail mobile:circle-6 mobile:maxw-6 circle-card maxw-card thumbnail margin-right-2 desktop:margin-right-5\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"10rem\" height=\"10rem\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\" class=\"avatar avatar-300 photo medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Heather-Monaghan_avatar_1659723319-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Heather Monaghan\"><\/div><div class=\"grid-col\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-29 line-height-sm\">Heather Monaghan<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"heading-12 p-md\">Graphic Designer and Communications Specialist<\/div><div class=\"padding-y-2\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-9\"><p class=\"margin-top-0\"><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 nasa_template_article_c hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-x\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?via=NASA&text=NASA%E2%80%99s%20Commercial%20Communications%20Services&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fdirectorates%2Fsomd%2Fspace-communications-navigation-program%2Fnasas-commercial-communications-services%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on X.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"1200\" height=\"1227\" viewBox=\"0 0 1200 1227\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M714.163 519.284L1160.89 0H1055.03L667.137 450.887L357.328 0H0L468.492 681.821L0 1226.37H105.866L515.491 750.218L842.672 1226.37H1200L714.137 519.284H714.163ZM569.165 687.828L521.697 619.934L144.011 79.6944H306.615L611.412 515.685L658.88 583.579L1055.08 1150.3H892.476L569.165 687.854V687.828Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fdirectorates%2Fsomd%2Fspace-communications-navigation-program%2Fnasas-commercial-communications-services%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 4.615v3.385z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fdirectorates%2Fsomd%2Fspace-communications-navigation-program%2Fnasas-commercial-communications-services%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on LinkedIn.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M4.98 3.5c0 1.381-1.11 2.5-2.48 2.5s-2.48-1.119-2.48-2.5c0-1.38 1.11-2.5 2.48-2.5s2.48 1.12 2.48 2.5zm.02 4.5h-5v16h5v-16zm7.982 0h-4.968v16h4.969v-8.399c0-4.67 6.029-5.052 6.029 0v8.399h4.988v-10.131c0-7.88-8.922-7.593-11.018-3.714v-2.155z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-rss\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/feed\/\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to RSS feed.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 800 800\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M493 652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"\/><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Sep 28, 2023<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\"><div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2><\/div><ul class=\"article-tags\"><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/nasa-directorates\/space-operations\/space-communications-and-navigation-scan-program\/\">Space Communications & Navigation Program<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\t\t<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h2 style=\"max-width: 100%;\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/station\/nasas-laser-relay-system-sends-pet-imagery-to-from-space-station\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pet-article-image-1-1.png?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pet-article-image-1-1.png 3840w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pet-article-image-1-1.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pet-article-image-1-1.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pet-article-image-1-1.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pet-article-image-1-1.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pet-article-image-1-1.png?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pet-article-image-1-1.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pet-article-image-1-1.png?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pet-article-image-1-1.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pet-article-image-1-1.png?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pet-article-image-1-1.png?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">5 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NASA’s Laser Relay System Sends Pet Imagery to, from Space Station<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1 week ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/psyche-mission\/nasas-optical-comms-demo-transmits-data-over-140-million-miles\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/1-pia25664-psyche-dsoc.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/1-pia25664-psyche-dsoc.jpg 1723w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/1-pia25664-psyche-dsoc.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/1-pia25664-psyche-dsoc.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/1-pia25664-psyche-dsoc.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/1-pia25664-psyche-dsoc.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/1-pia25664-psyche-dsoc.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/1-pia25664-psyche-dsoc.jpg?resize=600,337 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/1-pia25664-psyche-dsoc.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/1-pia25664-psyche-dsoc.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">6 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NASA\u2019s Optical Comms Demo Transmits Data Over 140 Million Miles<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 months ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/technology\/space-comms\/nasas-near-space-network-enables-pace-climate-mission-to-phone-home\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pacegraphic-newimages.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pacegraphic-newimages.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pacegraphic-newimages.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pacegraphic-newimages.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pacegraphic-newimages.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pacegraphic-newimages.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pacegraphic-newimages.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pacegraphic-newimages.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pacegraphic-newimages.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/pacegraphic-newimages.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">4 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NASA\u2019s Near Space Network Enables PACE Climate Mission to \u2018Phone Home\u2019<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 months ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/communicating-with-missions\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Communicating with Missions<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PIA17790_orig.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PIA17790_orig.jpg 5184w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PIA17790_orig.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PIA17790_orig.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PIA17790_orig.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PIA17790_orig.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PIA17790_orig.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PIA17790_orig.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PIA17790_orig.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PIA17790_orig.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PIA17790_orig.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PIA17790_orig.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/space-operations\/space-communications-and-navigation-scan-program\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1296\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/DSC_0418_eng.jpg?w=1296\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/DSC_0418_eng.jpg 1296w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/DSC_0418_eng.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/DSC_0418_eng.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/DSC_0418_eng.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/DSC_0418_eng.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/DSC_0418_eng.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/DSC_0418_eng.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/DSC_0418_eng.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1296px) 100vw, 1296px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/communicating-with-missions\/nsn\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Near Space Network<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1005\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_WSGT2-1.png?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_WSGT2-1.png 2710w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_WSGT2-1.png?resize=300,196 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_WSGT2-1.png?resize=768,502 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_WSGT2-1.png?resize=1024,670 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_WSGT2-1.png?resize=1536,1005 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_WSGT2-1.png?resize=2048,1340 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_WSGT2-1.png?resize=400,262 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_WSGT2-1.png?resize=600,393 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_WSGT2-1.png?resize=900,589 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_WSGT2-1.png?resize=1200,785 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_WSGT2-1.png?resize=2000,1308 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/commercial-space\/commercial-crew-program\/commercial-crew-program-overview\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Commercial Crew Program Overview<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1037\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Launch-America-Banner-on-VAB.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Launch-America-Banner-on-VAB.jpg 6107w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Launch-America-Banner-on-VAB.jpg?resize=300,202 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Launch-America-Banner-on-VAB.jpg?resize=768,518 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Launch-America-Banner-on-VAB.jpg?resize=1024,691 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Launch-America-Banner-on-VAB.jpg?resize=1536,1037 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Launch-America-Banner-on-VAB.jpg?resize=2048,1382 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Launch-America-Banner-on-VAB.jpg?resize=400,270 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Launch-America-Banner-on-VAB.jpg?resize=600,405 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Launch-America-Banner-on-VAB.jpg?resize=900,607 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Launch-America-Banner-on-VAB.jpg?resize=1200,810 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Launch-America-Banner-on-VAB.jpg?resize=2000,1350 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA\u2019s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program seeks to engage commercial services for NASA\u2019s missions, rather than continuing to build, maintain, and operate its own systems. From its inception in 1958, whenever NASA needed to receive data from one of its Earth observing satellites or talk to its astronauts in orbit, it used equipment and [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":188992,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[3315],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[4240,4199],"coauthors":[8383,11359],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"NASA\u2019s Commercial Communications Services","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/somd\/space-communications-navigation-program\/nasas-commercial-communications-services\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/somd\/space-communications-navigation-program\/nasas-commercial-communications-services\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_STGT_SGLTs-at-Dawn.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_STGT_SGLTs-at-Dawn.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Directorates","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Heather Monaghan"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Catherine G. Manning"}],"creator":["Heather Monaghan","Catherine G. Manning"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Directorates","Space Operations Mission Directorate","Space Communications & Navigation Program"],"dateCreated":"2021-03-16T00:09:00Z","datePublished":"2021-03-16T00:09:00Z","dateModified":"2023-09-28T15:43:43Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"NASA\u2019s Commercial Communications Services\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/somd\/space-communications-navigation-program\/nasas-commercial-communications-services\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_STGT_SGLTs-at-Dawn.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2021-03-16T00:09:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Directorates\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Directorates,Space Operations Mission Directorate,Space Communications & Navigation Program\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Heather Monaghan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Catherine G. Manning\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":12,"time_ago":"3 years","featured_image":{"id":188992,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Photo_STGT_SGLTs-at-Dawn.jpg","title":"Second Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) Ground Terminal at Dawn","alt":"Several antennas point in varying directions. The Sun is rising behind a mountain range in the background, casting an orange glow across the antennas.","caption":"The Near Space Network Second Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) Ground Terminal at the White Sands Complex in New Mexico."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73647"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73647"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":529706,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73647\/revisions\/529706"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/188992"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73647"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=73647"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=73647"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=73647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}