SmallSat Ka-band Operations User Terminal (SKOUT)

SKOUT is a Ka-band communications system for future NASA mission spacecraft that operates with both NASA and commercial relay satellite constellations in GEO and potentially LEO as well as direct-to-Earth (DTE) networks.

This project encompasses the development and demonstration of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) 5G, Ka band, phased array technologies compatible with commercial space networks, including actively phases array antennas, software defined modems, power optimization algorithms, and high data rate to ground using the DVB-S2 standard.

• Eliminates Mechanical Gimbal/Body Pointing
  • Electronically steered antenna provides near instantaneous pointing and tracking without disturbing spacecraft operations
• Reduce perceptions of mission risk by demonstrating Ka-band phased array technology to advance TRL
• Demonstrate improved performance of Ka-band phased-array antennas
• Increase ease use of Ka-band for future missions
• Develop low-cost communications payload by utilizing commercial best-practices and/or leveraging growing commercial 5G market
• Tiled architecture extensible from CubeSats to traditional large satellite user missions

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — 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.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.