NSLComm has announced that the firm has secured their first customer—Israel Aerospace Industries.
The contract is for a feasibility study and the design of future antennas for geostationary communication satellites. This will include the Amos 8 and future missions. NSLComm is transforming satellite communications with a fabric-like expandable antenna that greatly increases satellite power and provides on orbit footprint control via an adaptive flexible sub-reflector.
The company demo'd their foldable antenna at booth 339 in Hall B during Satellite 2017. Their presentation revealed the potential to deploy incredible, small, inexpensive but powerful smallsats. A launch is planned to occur in early 2018.
Key benefits of NSLComm’s technology include..
- Lightweight – 1.3 kg (LEO - 60 cm), 10 kg (GEO- 5 meters)
- Expandable and Flexible – LEO fits in 2U (2 liters), GEO fits in 65 cm cylinder
- Can change footprint on the ground on the fly via adaptive footprint control
- Lowers launcher cost for spacecraft due to flexibility and low weight as compared to existing solutions
- Multi-beam configuration supported
- Supports all potential satcom frequencies (i.e., Ka, Ku, C, X, V)
- Highly cost effective as compared to products available today
- Supports LEO-to-GEO satellite communications
- Enables very high capacity throughput
- Supports intersatellite links