Near Space Network (NSN) — Lunar Relay IDIQ

System details

Operator

NASA SCaN (commercial providers)

Category

Relay system

Orbit

Relay + ground service spanning near-Earth through cislunar (commercial relay satellites in lunar orbit)

Frequency bands

S-, X-, and Ka-band RF plus optical/laser; the lunar relay service offers Ka-band high-rate and S-band low-rate links

Coverage

Earth's surface through the cislunar/lunar region

Full service

Base period 2024-2029 + 5yr option

Customer

NASA-other

Contract value

$4.82B IDIQ ceilingas of 2024-09-17^[1]Multiple-award IDIQ; Intuitive Machines first awardee

Overview

NASA's commercial near-space communications + navigation services IDIQ. Covers Earth's surface through cislunar region. Intuitive Machines received the first task order on 2024-09-17. NSN consolidates previously fragmented near-Earth + lunar relay procurement into one commercial vehicle. Expected to attract additional task-order awards through the 10-year contract life.

Related relay system systems

• Parsec Lunar NetworkCrescent Space (Lockheed Martin subsidiary)
• Queqiao-2 Relay SatelliteCNSA
• Lunar PathfinderESA (built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd) — service via Goonhilly Earth Station