NASA announced the selection of three companies to conduct work on developing Ka-band space relay communications concepts. The new solutions must be compatible with existing space missions, which will ensure continuous service of existing spacecraft without the need to modify their onboard systems. As part of this initiative, the agency intends to obtain comprehensive solutions covering all stages — from space and ground segments to launch, operations, and systems integration. This approach should simplify the transition to new communications infrastructure and minimize risks to current orbital constellations. The project is part of NASA's efforts to modernize space communications systems and prepare for future missions requiring higher bandwidth and data transmission reliability. The Ka-band provides higher information transmission speeds compared to traditionally used frequency bands, which is especially important for missions generating large volumes of scientific data.