On Tuesday, April 21, 2026, Ryan Stevenson, Chief Scientist and founding member of Kymeta Corporation, detailed the engineering hurdles and strategic shifts behind the development of the world’s first simultaneous Ku- and Ka-band metamaterial antenna.
Speaking on the Orbited podcast with the Space & Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) 2025 “20 Under 35” cohort, Stevenson provided technical insight into the maturation of flat-panel electronically steered antennas (ESAs).
Technical Milestones in Metamaterials
The transition from traditional parabolic dishes to metamaterial surfaces required Kymeta to challenge long-standing assumptions regarding frequency management. Stevenson noted that the breakthrough—achieving concurrent connectivity across different frequency bands within a single aperture—was a primary objective to address the increasing complexity of multi-orbit connectivity.
The technology utilizes a holographic beam-forming approach, which allows for a low-profile, “comm-on-the-move” capability without the mechanical failure points of traditional gimbal-based systems. This development is particularly critical as the industry shifts toward integrated LEO (Low Earth Orbit) and GEO (Geostationary) service models.
Executive Perspectives: Ryan Stevenson
“Knowing when to transition a project from the laboratory to a shippable product is the most difficult balance in applied physics. For metamaterials, that meant moving beyond the theoretical capability and ensuring the software-defined nature of the antenna could handle the spectrum congestion we now see as an industry-wide constraint.“
Sustaining the Orbital Environment
Beyond hardware specifications, Stevenson highlighted orbital debris remediation as a critical technological frontier. He argued that the long-term viability of the satellite communications market depends heavily on the industry’s ability to manage the space environment, especially as mega-constellations continue to expand. For the incoming generation of space professionals, Stevenson emphasized that the current “disruption cycle” in the industry offers a unique opportunity to redefine space architecture from the ground up, prioritizing sustainability alongside connectivity.
Future Development Paths
Kymeta continues to iterate on its metamaterial platform, focusing on reducing SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost) to broaden adoption across maritime, military, and land-mobile sectors. The integration of multi-band capabilities is expected to become the baseline for ground segment hardware as operators demand seamless switching between providers and orbits to ensure link redundancy.
