Under the agreement, ThinKom will develop a Ka-band version of ThinKom’s scalable Digital Array that enables multi-beam, multi-orbit, multi-constellation operation via a modular, waveform agnostic, open architecture for global deployment of ground stations.
The core antenna module uses an active phased array design based on ThinKom’s patented Ultra technology. Ultra builds on the company’s field-proven, low-power, agile, and highly reliable VICTS technology, with additional key benefits. These include a true time delay (TTD) design to support ultra-wideband operation with no beam-walk over the full frequency range, delivering the high instantaneous channel bandwidth required for remote sensing applications. The high reliability antennas, combined with the software-defined beamformer provides the dynamic target tracking and real-time adaptability necessary to effectively manage the proliferation of satellite constellations in multiple orbital planes.
“ThinKom’s Multi-Beam Digital Arrays deliver unprecedented performance in terms of high aperture efficiency, low power consumption, and a low wind-loading form factor that can be quickly assembled on-site with a small footprint, suitable for even low-profile roof-top installations,” explains Bill Milroy, ThinKom’s CTO. “We could not have a better partner than KSAT as we bring these capabilities to the ground station market.”
The demonstrator model consists of self-contained Ka-band antenna modules that simplify installation and promote reconfigurability. Meanwhile, the beamformer module provides limitless aperture combining, real-time digital beamforming, simultaneous satellite links, and instantaneous satellite handoff capabilities.
“At KSAT, we take pride driving and adopting new technology solutions and continuously striving to improve the efficiency of our global satellite ground station network,” added John Heskett, CTO-KSAT. “Phased Array Antennas have been around quite a while and offer enormous potential, however, finding solutions that meet the demanding requirements of our Earth Observation tracking ground stations has proven challenging. We are excited to partner with ThinKom on their solution and look forward to collaborating with NOAA to evaluate its performance against the JPSS satellites.”
KSAT will evaluate multi-beam performance of the ThinKom solution, simultaneously tracking and processing wideband Ka-band downlinks from multiple satellites. Program testing will be performed in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Program from ThinKom’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California. Future iterations of this gateway technology include multi-band, mobile, and portable gateway configurations.
