The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) constellation of NASA-owned satellites has provided service since the 1980s. NASA is evaluating commercial proposals to replace TDRS.

SES says it has successfully tested a relay communications link between one of its satellites in medium Earth orbit and a low Earth orbit flight-representative terminal on the ground.

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Jason Rainbow writes about satellite telecom, space finance and commercial markets for SpaceNews. He has spent more than a decade covering the global space industry as a business journalist. Previously, he was Group Editor-in-Chief for Finance Information...