Advanced Beamforming Antenna System for High Data Rate Small Spacecraft Communications

Complex small spacecraft missions beyond LEO and the ever-increasing space communication speeds are introducing new challenges for communication systems. NASArsquo;s Distributed Spacecraft Mission (DSM) and their deployments for lunar and Deep Space Networks (DSN) are some examples of such complex missions, where new small spacecraft antenna technologies are needed. To address this technology need, SkyGig is bringing innovative approaches to antenna design through a unique antenna architecture with high-gain electronic beamforming, low SWaP-C, and low-profile modular configuration. With an order of magnitude improvement, the proposed Ka-band technology significantly enhances link capacity, reliability, and latency in the communication system and can a play a pivotal role is a variety of NASA small spacecraft missions and programs:(1) Inter-Satellite Links (ISL) in DSM configurations, where SkyGigrsquo;s technology enables much higher aggregated throughput and reliability with lower latency in the ISL network. This in turn allows supporting higher number of spacecraft collaboration in a constellation and relieves the ground stations by enabling more efficient information exchange in the DSM configuration without input from the ground(2) Communications architecture in NASArsquo;s lunar and Martian missions, where SkyGigrsquo;s technology offers a versatile all-in-one solution with much higher data-rate links for lunar surface to surface, data relay to earth, and access to lunar infrastructure communications(3) Enabling new mesh network communications in DSN and enabling distribution of communication capabilities across multiple small spacecraft for significant SWaP-C savings, while enhancing coverage and capacityThe Phase I Ramp;D will demonstrate the technology through detailed analysis and comprehensive simulations of the antenna, and will provide us with a complete plan for a successful Phase II effort, where we will perform complete prototype and characterization of the antenna system.