York Space Systems Secures PExT Mission Extension Through 2027 Following BARD Success

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low earth orbit (leo) technical

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is the region of space close to Earth, roughly up to 2,000 kilometers above the surface, where most communication, imaging and weather satellites operate. It matters to investors because it is a fast-growing commercial zone — think of it as a crowded highway for satellites — creating opportunities in satellite manufacturing, launch services, broadband and data analytics while also bringing risks from congestion, debris, regulatory licensing and intense competition.

tracking and data relay satellite (tdrs) technical

A tracking and data relay satellite is a spacecraft that receives signals from other satellites, spacecraft or ground stations and forwards that information across long distances, acting like a relay runner or a cell tower in space. Investors care because these satellites enable continuous communications, telemetry and data transfer for weather, communications, navigation and defense systems, so they underpin revenue streams, service reliability and contract-driven spending in the aerospace sector.

ka-band technical

Ka-band is a slice of the microwave radio spectrum (roughly 26.5–40 GHz) commonly used for satellite links and high-capacity wireless backhaul. Because it carries more data per second and lets antennas be smaller, it can enable faster internet and more channels, but its higher frequency is also more prone to signal loss in heavy rain or obstacles. Investors track Ka-band deployment and equipment costs because it affects a company’s ability to deliver high-speed services, coverage economics, and revenue potential.

03/30/2026 - 09:00 AM

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- York Space Systems (York) (NYSE: YSS), a leading, US-based national defense and commercial prime providing a comprehensive suite of mission-critical solutions, today announced that NASA and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) have extended operations of the Polylingual Experimental Terminal (PExT) demonstration through 2027, following the successful completion of BARD mission objectives in 2025.

Launched in July 2025, the PExT payload is a first-of-its-kind wideband multilingual communications terminal operating in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), developed and executed in collaboration with NASA and the Johns Hopkins APL. Since launch, the mission has completed more than 100 on-orbit communication activities, successfully demonstrating forward- and return-link connectivity with NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) system and validating interoperability across multiple commercial Ka-band relay networks.

These demonstrations confirm the feasibility of seamless roaming between government and commercial communications services, enabling future LEO missions to transfer commanding, telemetry, and science data without exclusive reliance on TDRS. The work also informs emerging approaches to modernizing legacy communications architectures. Instead of relying on a small number of large relay satellites, next-generation systems are increasingly designed as distributed networks of many spacecraft, expanding coverage and maintaining connectivity even if individual nodes experience degradation or loss. A proliferated LEO (pLEO) network could significantly increase connectivity while reducing latency and enabling faster technology refresh cycles aligned with commercial innovation, while maintaining compatibility with existing missions and enabling next-generation spacecraft to leverage advances in communications technology.

One key outcome of the PExT demonstration is the maturation of a wideband terminal architecture that future missions can baseline to reduce integration complexity, cost, and schedule risk.

The 12-month extension enables an expanded series of demonstrations throughout 2026 and into early 2027. Planned activities include increased interoperability testing and direct-to-Earth (DTE) communications with commercial ground service providers, supporting near real-time commanding, telemetry, and science data transfer options for future science and operational missions.

“PExT is delivering exactly what demonstration missions are meant to prove: real capability on orbit,” said Melanie Preisser, EVP and GM of York. “The extension reflects strong on-orbit performance and allows us to further advance flexible communications architectures that combine government and commercial networks.”

By demonstrating roaming across multiple relay services – including government and commercial networks and direct-to-Earth ground stations – PExT is helping shape the next generation of resilient, scalable space communications infrastructure in LEO.

In parallel, York is implementing mission tasking automation enhancements to support additional demonstrations this year, including expanded DTE testing with commercial providers. These upgrades increase operational efficiency and enable more dynamic testing scenarios as the mission continues through 2027.

“Expanding the PExT mission reinforces York’s momentum across both commercial and national security missions,” Preisser added. “It demonstrates York’s ability not only to deliver on orbit, but to expand operational programs as customer needs evolve.”

PExT remains an operational demonstration actively contributing performance data and operational insight to the evolution of resilient, distributed space-based communications architectures.

About York Space Systems

York Space Systems (NYSE: YSS) is a leading, U.S.-based national defense and commercial prime providing a comprehensive suite of mission-critical solutions for national security, government, and commercial customers. York is one of the only space and defense primes with proprietary hardware and software capabilities designed to address customers’ complex mission requirements across the critical elements of the entire space ecosystem throughout the mission lifecycle. York is purpose built to address evolving national security space challenges and to adapt to the ongoing shift in the U.S. government’s mission needs and procurement processes.

Forward-Looking Statements

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Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include: cost overruns on our contracts, including before final receipt of a contract; significant competition in the global space and satellite market; any failure of our spacecraft systems and related software to operate as intended, resulting in warranty claims for product failures, schedule delays or other problems with existing or new products; our revenue, results of operations and reputation may be negatively impacted if our products contain defects or fail to operate in the expected manner; our failure to establish and maintain important relationships with government agencies and prime contractors; the scarcity or unavailability of critical components used to manufacture our products or used in our development programs; disruptions in U.S. government operations and funding and budgetary priorities of the U.S. government; the inability to comply with any of our contracts or meet eligibility requirements to obtain certain government contracts; and the other factors set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this press release and the related conference call. Actual results may vary from the estimates provided. We undertake no intent or obligation to publicly update or revise any of the estimates and other forward-looking statements made in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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