# Solstar Demonstrates Orbital Communications

During NASA’s R5-S10 proximity operations mission, Solstar Space demonstrated its Deke Space Communicator by linking two spacecraft and relaying more than 2,300 files of mission imagery and sensor data to NASA personnel at Johnson Space Center over the Iridium network. The in-orbit demonstration provides a commercial-technology validation signal for spacecraft communications and orbital servicing, but the reported activity does not include a NASA solicitation, contract award, or procurement commitment. Encore Technologies’ approximately US$1.16 million investment in Solstar is a corporate investment, not government contract funding.

- For government buyers and contractors, the demonstration offers evidence of in-orbit data-transfer capability relevant to missions requiring communication between spacecraft, operators, and ground teams; it does not establish an agency requirement or funded opportunity.
- Solstar supplied the communications technology, Momentus provided the Vigoride-7 orbital service vehicle used in the mission, and Iridium provided the satellite network. These roles may help industry stakeholders understand the commercial capabilities and dependencies demonstrated.
- Companies pursuing NASA or other government space work should distinguish technology-validation results from procurement activity; no solicitation, award value, contract number, or proposal deadline was reported.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Information Technology
**Topics:** Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** October 22, 2026

### Government Entities
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC)

### Vendors
- Solstar Space Co. (Developer and provider of the Deke Space Communicator)
- Encore Technologies Corp. (Strategic investor in Solstar)
- Momentus (Provider of the Vigoride-7 orbital service vehicle used in the mission)
- Iridium (Satellite network provider used to relay mission data)

### Key Quotes
> We believe the next generation of space infrastructure will require persistent and reliable connectivity between spacecraft, operators and Earth.
> — Stephen Kukucha, Chief Executive Officer of Encore Technologies

### Sources
- [Encore Technologies Highlights Major Development Milestone By Solstar Space During Joint Mission with NASA - The Tech Outlook](https://www.thetechoutlook.com/press-release/encore-technologies-highlights-major-development-milestone-by-solstar-space-during-joint-mission-with-nasa) - The Tech Outlook