** Shares of satellite communications firm Viasat VSAT.O rise 25.3% to $11.15
** VSAT says NASA has selected it for a $4.82 bln contract to help the agency with communication services for its space missions
** The contract is part of NASA's Near Space Network (NSN) Services program - VSAT
** NASA's NSN Services program provides reliable communications for missions within one million miles of Earth, using government and commercial assets
** VSAT is one of four commercial companies to support NASA's NSN Services
** Two of eight brokerages rate the stock "buy" and six "hold"; their median PT is $16 - LSEG
** VSAT fell ~70% in 2024
(Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru)
((Kamal.Choudhury@thomsonreuters.com;))