NASA has selected Carlsbad-based Viasat as one of four satellite communications firms to support its future missions in space and its research on Earth. The Carlsbad technology firm will employ its network of low Earth orbit satellites and satellites on Earth to help beam data to the ground and vice-versa more efficiently.

The NASA NSN Services contract will provide commercial ground and space relay services for future NASA missions from low Earth orbit (LEO) to two million kilometers from Earth. As part of the contract,

Shares of Viasat jumped after the National Aeronautics and Space Administration selected the company for a contract worth up to $4.82 billion. The stock rose 27%, to $11.31, in midday trading Tuesday.