🇸🇪 First-ever wideband polylingual direct-to-Earth demonstration

Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) to demonstrate direct-to-Earth, forward and return links on Ka-band via its global ground station network for NASA’s groundbreaking PExT (Polylingual Experimental Terminal) technology demonstration.

Managed by NASA and the agency’s SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) Program in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, the Polylingual Experiment Terminal, or PExT, is a first-of-its-kind, in-flight Ka-band wideband technology demonstration that allows spacecraft to communicate across frequencies, including both government and commercial networks.

From a single terminal, the PExT demonstration showcases various mission scenarios in Earth proximity while roaming between NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) system and three commercial communications networks.

“We are proud to be one of the few networks selected for this groundbreaking NASA demonstration, aiming to prove interoperability across multiple ground assets. This addresses a whole new market segment, not least by enabling post-launch service additions. Our ground stations will ensure a reliable link between Earth and space,” says Dan Narey, Business Development Director at SSC.

The mission, which launched on July 23, was recently extended to add an additional 12 months of testing, including the direct-to-Earth testing with SSC. During extended mission operations, SSC will support the flight demonstrations throughout more than 50 low Earth orbit direct-to-Earth passes. PExT will link to Earth via SSC’s partner ground station in Weilheim, Germany, owned by the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

Focused on the commercial market, the PExT technology demonstration supports NASA’s broader plans to retire the TDRS constellation and transition to a commercial-first approach for near-Earth space communications services by 2031.

Originally published on 19 December 2025 by Swedish Space Corporation.

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