According to the latest report, Amazon’s satellite project, SpaceX’s Starlink network, and other satellite companies have received a total of $278.5 million in space communications contracts from NASA. NASA is working to replace the existing network of satellites currently in orbit with privately built systems.
It is reported that Amazon’s “Project Kuiper” satellite Internet project won a $67 million contract, while SpaceX’s Starlink project won a $70 million contract and already has about 2,000 satellites in space.
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Moreover, other companies awarded NASA contracts include Inmarsat, SES, Telesat, and ViaSat. Under the contract, the companies expect to complete the development and testing of the satellite by 2025, NASA said in a statement.
NASA is gradually outsourcing more and more tasks to private companies to improve operational efficiency and hopes to stimulate more commercial activity in areas such as space communications and human spaceflight.
The system NASA currently uses, known as the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, communicates with spacecraft in orbit.
Eli Naffah, NASA’s communications services program director, told the media: “Our goal is to really engage private industry with us to develop new capabilities, and their customers are not only NASA, but also There are other space-based customers, and we want to keep costs down.”
