Focus: Ground Systems

As the satellite industry aims to serve every connectivity need from global 5G networks to mission critical communications, the ever-present threat of a cyber attack is an integral consideration of engineering design both in space and on the ground.  The growth of the satellite industry is requiring increasingly more bandwidth and capacity to operate new...

L3Harris Technologies has successfully completed a technology demonstration to Multi-Band Multi-Mission (MBMM) phased array ground antenna system under a Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) contract. L3Harris announced Tuesday that the antenna system was integrated with the U.S. Space Force’s Satellite Communication Network system to demonstrate multiple, simultaneous satellite contacts, where traditional parabolic or radio antennas can only...

ThinKom’s K- and Q-band phased-array antenna have been tested and proved to meet or exceed performance metrics to operate with the frequency-hopping waveform of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) protected communications satellite network.  The company announced Monday that it recently completed Over-the-Air (OTA) tests of a pair of K- and Q-band phased-array antennas communicating...

Atlas Space Operations phased array antenna system has recently completed late-stage testing, solidifying it as a new Multi-Band/Multi-Mission (MBMM) antenna system, the company reported Dec. 17. Atlas has been developing the antenna system under a contract through the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) and in partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit...

Arsat has signed an agreement with Telesat to support its transfer orbit support services, and it’s Benavidez Ground Station successfully supported Telesat’s work in the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) of the Japanese satellite launched on Nov. 29. The Argentine satellite operator announced in December that it was contracted by Telesat to integrate its...

OneWeb has selected Hughes to develop and manufacture the ground system technology for its Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation, restarting a prior agreement between the companies. Under the $250 million three-year contract announced Wednesday, Hughes has agreed to produce the gateway electronics for the OneWeb system and the core module that will be used in every...

Amazon has completed initial development of the user terminal for Project Kuiper, it’s Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation in development. Amazon announced Wednesday that its prototype design has delivered speeds up to 400 Mbps and streamed 4K-quality video in tests with a Geostationary (GEO) satellite. The antenna design and manufacturing effort is led in-house by...

SES has signed an agreement with Pivotel to build a new satellite ground station at the Pivotel teleport in Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. This ground station, announced Monday, will support SES’s O3b mPOWER Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) constellation, and will begin operations in the second half of 2021. This ground station project is part of...

Viasat has integrated Link 16 cryptographic modernization capability into its KOR-24A Small Tactical Terminal (STT), the company announced Thursday. The terminal has been National Security Agency (NSA) certified for Link 16 crypto modernization. This modernization was done because of a U.S. government mandate and Viasat said it will give warfighters assured access to information when...

Kymeta’s next-generation u8 antenna is now commercially available, the company announced Monday. Kymeta is pitching the land mobility Ku-band antenna as a communication solution for government, defense, and first responder customers. It covers the full Ku-band and is capable of operating on Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) networks. Kymeta Vice President of Product Lilac Muller told Via...