Northwood Space successfully tests second-generation phased array antenna
Briefly

Northwood Space has completed testing of its second-generation phased array antenna technology, allowing simultaneous communication with spacecraft in various orbits. The prototype gateway connected with multiple satellites, leading to plans for commercial deployment within months. The new system will support 500 simultaneous spacecraft across different frequencies and data rates. The production-ready antenna, named Portal, is capable of connecting to satellites in low-Earth, medium-Earth, and geostationary orbits. Northwood's engineers have focused on enhancing the antenna's durability and transmission capabilities.
"This system, with planned multinational deployment this year, will be the first building block in our network that over the next three years aims to support 500 simultaneous spacecraft across multiple frequencies, data rates, and orbits," she said.
The production-ready antenna system, which will be formally named Portal, is designed to connect with satellites in low-Earth, medium-Earth, and geostationary orbit.
Northwood was founded on the premise that there is presently a bottleneck in the capability of commercial ground stations to download increasing amounts of data gathered by satellites in orbit.
Northwood's small team of engineers has been working on the design of a more capable second-generation antenna, which is more rugged and tran.
Read at Ars Technica
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