It provides NASA with an entirely new way of providing space communications to its near-Earth spacecraft, while enabling NASA to focus on NASA-specific space communications for which there is either an absolute need (i.e. safety, security, critical timeliness, etc.) for NASA to own and operate the communications infrastructure and operations or cannot be provided by commercial satellite communications providers. By off-loading the space communications from the SN, it enables the SN infrastructure and operations to be optimized for critical, NASA-unique requirements, thereby significantly reducing NASA's overall cost for space communications. The project will be interacting directly with the CSCS Ground Terminals (CSCSGT) manufacturers, they will become the source for manufacturing the CSCS User Terminals (CSCSUT) to the new NASA specification. This ensures an immediate technology transfer to industry.
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