Peraton has secured a five-year, $1.8bn Nasa contract to support near-Earth mission services, known as Space Exploration Network Services and Evolution (SENSE).

SENSE is a follow-on to the Space Communications Network Services contract. Since 2011, Peraton is leading the contract to support the Exploration and Space Communications Projects Division at the Goddard Space Flight Center.

The new contract will see Peraton continue to deliver full lifecycle communications and tracking services.

The company will identify and implement architectural enhancements to gain efficiencies and optimisation.

Peraton said it will also collaborate with Nasa/ESC/GSFC and the Nasa community to support their future architectural vision for the next generation of space communications and navigation services.

Peraton president of space, intelligence and cyber sector Roger Mason said: “Peraton is deeply committed to being Nasa’s key mission partner and we are honoured to be entrusted with this critical capability.

“For over a decade, Nasa has relied on us to deliver critical communications for their highest priority missions, and now with SENSE, to enhance future capabilities for the next generation of integrated, efficient space communications and navigation services.”

US manufacturing firm ITT Corp originally won the contract in 2008. In 2011, it spun out part of its business to form Excelis.

In 2015, Excelis was acquired by Harris Corporation for $4.75bn. Last year, the latter spun out its IT business to establish Peraton.

Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, US, Peraton employs more than 3,000 people across the US and Canada.

Peraton serves as a critical partner to the Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, and select federal agencies and commercial entities.