NASA selected satellite communications tech company, Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), to support the agency’s direct-to-Earth (DTE) abilities through a Near Space Network (NSN) Services contract.
Investor response on Tuesday has been enthusiastic, as the company’s shares have risen by approximately 40 per cent, having reached $12.03 at the time of writing.
The contract is part of a broader five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) program. This program has the potential to be extended for an additional five years.
NASA selected Viasat as one of four commercial entities to receive Task Order awards under this initiative. Viasat will initially provide global ground segment support services for NASA missions. However, it may expand its offerings to additional services in the future. The NSN Services contract seeks to utilize commercial ground and space relay services to support NASA missions from low Earth orbit (LEO) to distances of up to two million kilometers from Earth.
In 2023, commercial providers fulfilled approximately 36 per cent of NASA’s DTE services, highlighting significant potential for growth. Viasat’s Defense and Advanced Technologies (DAT) division will work with other commercial providers to deliver DTE connectivity for ongoing and planned NASA space missions.
Viasat will leverage its Real-Time Earth (RTE) Ground-Segment-as-a-Service (GSaaS) network to provide a resilient, high-throughput satellite-to-ground communication solution for LEO missions. The company has partnered with ATLAS Space Operations and the Alaska Satellite Facility (ASF) this for NASA.
The Viasat RTE network delivers multi-gigabit per second downlinks and integrates advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud-based optimization.
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Viasat reduced its net loss to $138M from $767M in 2023
The contract with NASA supports the agency’s goal of utilizing commercial capabilities for mission communication and navigation requirements, enabling the transport of more science and data. NASA is actively transitioning from its legacy Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) to commercial services.
Kent Leka, vice president and general manager of Antenna Systems at Viasat, said the company is excited to support NASA’s critical mission needs. He noted that the Viasat RTE ground service was built to be scalable and automated. Furthermore, this makes it well-suited for handling the demands of data-intensive space missions.
Viasat Inc. recently announced several significant developments. The company reported improved Q2 2025 results. It reduced its net loss to USD$138 million from USD$767 million in the previous year. This came despite a slight revenue decline to $1.12 billion from $1.13 billion. Viasat also secured record contract awards totaling approximately $1.3 billion, driven primarily by its Defense and Advanced Technologies division.
Viasat completed the sale of its Energy Services System Integration (SI) business to MAG Capital Partners, aligning with its strategy to strengthen its financial position. The sale transferred approximately 80 employees to the new entity, Nessco, along with the SI facility in Aberdeen, Scotland.
In partnership with Altán, a Mexican telecommunications wholesaler, Viasat launched a new broadband service in Mexico. This service provides internet connectivity to previously underserved regions, reaching over 150,000 individuals across 13 states.
These developments demonstrate Viasat’s commitment to strengthening its financial position, expanding its services, and addressing market challenges. Looking ahead, Viasat expects its revenue to remain flat or increase slightly year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA growth projected in the mid-single digits.
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