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Completed TRL 5 (started at 3, targeting 5)
The objective of this effort is to develop a polarizer that operates in both Ka-band uplink (22.55 – 23.55 GHz) and downlink frequencies (25.25 – 27.5 GHz). A polarizer is a passive radio frequency (RF) device that turns linearly polarized waves into circularly polarized waves and is a critical component of Ka-band communication antenna systems. This design uses a waveguide septum polarizer, leveraging previous flight developments.
This development would enable a combined uplink/downlink Ka-band antenna system by providing a dual-band polarizer that currently doesn’t exist as a commercial off-the-shelf product. These antenna systems are critical to NASA’s long-term communication goals.
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This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
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