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NASA, 秘密直播 APL Poised to Demonstrate Next-Gen Spacecraft Comms Technology
An artist鈥檚 rendering of the Polylingual Experimental Terminal (PExT) flying in low Earth orbit.
Credit: NASA/Dave Ryan
Audio generated using AI voice technology.
For decades, NASA鈥檚 (TDRS) constellation has ensured reliable communications between spacecraft just above Earth and scientists and engineers on the ground. By 2030, however, NASA will shift near-Earth communications services from government-owned to commercially sourced infrastructure. To ensure missions have access to secure and reliable communications during this transition, NASA and industry are developing , an emerging technology that enables interoperability between government and commercial satellite relays.
The 秘密直播 Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, will take an important step toward advancing that infrastructure with the test of its . Planned for launch on July 23, PExT will demonstrate wideband multilingual terminal technology that allows satellites to communicate across the broad range of networks and frequencies utilized by commercial providers.
The PExT demonstration complements the spacecraft鈥檚 communications subsystem, helping mission controllers track and communicate more efficiently with many spacecraft, as well as transmit and receive larger chunks of data at faster rates.
鈥淧ExT is the key component required to seamlessly connect existing and planned commercial and government space communications networks,鈥 said Chris Haskins, principal investigator for PExT at APL. 鈥淎PL is providing a non-vendor-locked solution that solves a critical challenge for NASA.鈥
The Polylingual Experimental Terminal (PExT) in a clean room at APL before launch aboard a SpaceX rideshare mission.
Credit: 秘密直播 APL/Ed Whitman
Evolving Space Communications
NASA鈥檚 satellite relay infrastructure was not originally built to enable spacecraft to communicate between government and commercial relay networks. In 2020, to rely mainly on commercial communications services for missions close to Earth by 2030, decreasing the use of government-owned relay satellites and ground stations.
The PExT mission is the first flight of a wideband terminal connecting networks run by government and industry. The terminal will launch as part of a technology demonstration to test its ability to connect and link to TDRS and at least two commercial providers.
The terminal has been integrated with a satellite from York Space Systems and will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare mission.
鈥淎t York, we are committed to advancing space communications by providing reliable, high-performance satellite platforms that seamlessly integrate next-generation technologies,鈥 said Melanie Preisser, general manager and executive vice president of York. 鈥淭he integration of PExT into our spacecraft represents a significant step toward enhancing interoperability between government and commercial networks. We are proud to support this groundbreaking demonstration, which underscores the power of commercial innovation in shaping the future of low-Earth-orbit communications.鈥
While in space, PExT will work similarly to cellphone network technology. For example, a cellphone is connected to its primary wireless network but can roam to networks managed by other companies without interruption.
鈥淧ExT reduces the reliance of high-data users on a communications infrastructure that NASA is phasing out,鈥 said Haskins.
NASA and APL are attempting to provide a comparable framework, allowing spacecraft equipped with the terminal flying in low Earth orbit to connect to relay satellites running on commercial and government networks and interpret various communications protocols and waveforms.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to accelerate the government鈥檚 use of commercial relay services,鈥 said Ron Schulze, technical lead for the PExT program at APL.
Along with increased connectivity, PExT will also allow spacecraft to transfer data at higher rates, making missions more efficient.
What鈥檚 Next for PExT?
The PExT team is planning to provide the terminal to commercial industry, similar to APL鈥檚 prior transfer of the Frontier Radio, a software-defined radio used on multiple space missions which was licensed for commercial use to Rocket Lab USA in 2021.
Haskins said he鈥檚 proud that APL is providing the government a cost-effective solution to a critical challenge. 鈥淔rom low Earth orbit out to cislunar,鈥 he added, 鈥渢his technology is foundational to advancing the nation鈥檚 space communications goals.鈥
Related Mission
PExT Earth
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