ViaSat, Inc. ( VSAT ) shares are rising after NASA selected the company to support its direct-to-Earth capabilities through the Near Space Network Services contract.

This is part of a five-year multi-award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, valued at $4.82 billion, with a potential five-year extension. Viasat ( VSAT ) is one of four commercial companies chosen for this initiative.

Under the contract, Viasat ( VSAT ) will provide global ground segment support services for NASA missions, initially focusing on low Earth orbit operations. Viasat ( VSAT ) will use its Real-Time Earth Ground-Segment-as-a-Service network to offer resilient, high-throughput satellite-to-ground communications.

Viasat’s partnership with ATLAS Space Operations and the Alaska Satellite Facility will help deliver a highly capable, geographically diverse satellite ground network.

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The contract aligns with NASA’s strategy to expand its use of commercial DTE services, which currently account for about 36% of its needs. The aim is to fully transition to commercial solutions for near-space missions.

Viasat’s RTE network will provide NASA with enhanced performance and efficiency, enabling faster, more cost-effective mission data delivery.

Price Action: VSAT shares are trading higher by 34% to $11.91 at last check Tuesday.

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