TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 18, 2025--
ATLAS Space Operations has been contracted by Viasat, Inc., a global leader in satellite communications, to help provide mission-critical support to ongoing and future NASA missions. As one of four commercial companies named in the first round of NASA Near Space Network (NSN) Services contract Task Order awards, Viasat will employ its global Real-Time Earth (RTE) network to support the agency’s expansion of Direct-to-Earth (DTE) capabilities. ATLAS, the largest U.S.-owned and operated federated ground network and the pioneer of Ground Software as a Service (G-SaaS), will support Viasat by contributing additional network capacity and integrating its patented Freedom ® Ground Software as a Service (GSaaS) into the team’s cutting-edge solution.
Viasat’s initial Task Order is for support of low Earth orbit (LEO) science missions using RTE’s resilient, scalable, and high throughput architecture, providing NASA the necessary ground segment services to meet their latency, accuracy, and availability requirements. Leveraging ATLAS’ Freedom Software, Viasat’s RTE network will deliver enhanced insights, flexibility, and adaptability in ground station orchestration. The additional capacity offered by ATLAS’ Global Federated Network ensures that NASA always has an antenna available.
“Teaming up with Viasat’s expert and forward-thinking team is always a privilege,” said Brad Bode, ATLAS Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder. “NASA’s selection of Viasat for Near Space Network (NSN) communications marks a pivotal shift toward commercial services, and our Freedom GSaaS is at the core of enabling this transition. By leveraging a software-defined, cloud-based architecture, we seamlessly integrate the Viasat RTE and ATLAS Global Federated Network, ensuring rapid scalability and adaptability. This approach accelerates NASA’s ability to replace legacy processes, reducing operational overhead and delivering faster, more flexible mission support—from Earth orbit to cislunar space and beyond.”
“We are thrilled to expand our already strong relationship with ATLAS through the NSN Services Contract,” said Steve Tanous, Vice President of Viasat RTE. “NASA’s selection of Viasat validates our hybrid network approach that can deliver commercial and government customers alike with a more robust, resilient, and reliable ground service.”
The Viasat-ATLAS collaboration adds resiliency and capacity to NSN’s support of missions that include climate study, celestial object research, and even NASA’s Artemis campaign and marks a new chapter in the longstanding relationship between the two companies.
Though the team’s initial Task Order award begins with LEO services, the five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) NSN contract also carries an additional five-year option and a cumulative maximum potential value of $4.82 billion (over 10 years) shared between the other NSN contract awardees. This should present future opportunities to expand work under additional awards for all the commercial companies selected.
About Viasat:
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people's lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. In May 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner. Learn more at www.viasat.com, the Viasat News Room or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, and YouTube. Viasat, the Viasat logo and the Viasat Signal are registered trademarks in the U.S. and in other countries of Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
About ATLAS Space Operations®:
ATLAS Space Operations is the leading provider of Ground Software as a Service™ in the space communications industry. ATLAS’ revolutionary Freedom® software has been recognized by industry-leading publications and organizations such as Via Satellite and CIO Review. Additionally, Aerospace & Defense Review named ATLAS the Space Tech Company of the Year (2024) and acknowledged ATLAS as one of the Top Satellite Solutions Providers (2024, 2023). Lastly, ATLAS was highlighted in the CIO Review: Telecom Edition as Company of the Year (2023), as well as one of the 10 Most Promising Technologies. ATLAS combines the Freedom Software Platform and its federated global antenna network to achieve its mission of securing space access anytime, anywhere. To learn more, visit atlasspace.com.
View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250318835538/en/
CONTACT: Media Contact:
Dan Carey
Brand Director, ATLAS Space Operations
dcarey@atlasspace.com
KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA MICHIGAN
