The Near Space Network (NSN) is a NASA-managed network that provides critical communication and navigation services for missions within 1.2 million miles of Earth. It uses a blend of government and commercial assets, including ground stations and the Tracking Data and Relay Satellite (TDRS) system, to enable spacecraft to transmit data to mission operators. The NSN supports a variety of missions, including Earth observation, space science, human spaceflight (like the International Space Station and Artemis program), and technology demonstrations. Key partners and customers include various NASA programs and commercial entities.
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NASA selected Intuitive Machines in 2024 to build a lunar satellite constellation to provide communication and navigation services for Artemis activities on the Moon as part of the Near Space Network.
Orion's communications architecture combines the Near Space Network and the Deep Space Network, including the Spanish station at Robledo de Chavela.
The Near Space Network and the Deep Space Network combine ground antennas distributed around the world with relay satellites in orbit to maintain communications links with Orion during launch, orbit, translunar injection, lunar transit, and return to splashdown.
The Near Space Network is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
The Near Space Network will provide communications and navigation services for Artemis II during mission stages close to Earth, including while Orion is in low Earth orbit and during early parts of the translunar trajectory.
Artemis missions use both the Near Space Network and the Deep Space Network under the oversight of NASA's Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program.
The Near Space Network and Deep Space Network route astronaut voice, images, video, and critical spacecraft telemetry across thousands and then hundreds of thousands of miles between the crew and ground controllers.
Flight controllers will operate the Near Space Network and the Deep Space Network in a tightly coordinated fashion throughout Artemis II.
A group of global institutional investors made a $175 million strategic equity investment in Intuitive Machines to support expansion of its Near Space Network Services to establish a solar system internet independent of Earth.
Intuitive Machines received a $4.82 billion Near Space Network Services contract from NASA in late 2024.
The Near Space Network Services program provides data relay and navigation services in support of the Artemis campaign and commercial lunar ventures.
The Near Space Network Services contract forms the foundation for Intuitive Machines’ vision of a solar system internet providing data relay and navigation services for the Artemis campaign and commercial lunar ventures.
The $175 million investment bolsters Intuitive Machines’ ability to execute the $4.82 billion Near Space Network Services contract awarded by NASA in late 2024.
Intuitive Machines’ Near Space Network Services aims to offer connectivity to Mars and enable energy-intensive data-processing missions.
Intuitive Machines plans to invest in expanding its near space network services and to establish a solar system internet independent of Earth.
Intuitive Machines plans to expand Near Space Network Services, a communications and navigation infrastructure for missions operating from Earth to beyond the Moon.
NASA’s Near Space Network and Deep Space Network, coordinated by the agency’s SCaN program, will provide primary communications and tracking services for Orion’s launch, journey around the Moon, and return to Earth.
The Near Space Network is managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
NASA’s Artemis communications plan uses the Near Space Network (NSN) to provide communications and navigation services in the mission’s early phase and transfers primary communications to the Deep Space Network (DSN) after Orion enters the translunar trajectory.
NASA will track the Orion spacecraft using the Near Space Network (NSN) managed by Goddard and the Deep Space Network (DSN) managed by JPL.