Ka Band Parabolic Deployable Antenna (KaPDA) for Interplanetary CubeSat Communications

Completed

Description

This task will develop a prototype 0.5 m Diameter Ka Band Parabolic Deployable Antenna (KaPDA) for Interplanetary CubeSat Communications.

Ka Band Parabolic Deployable Antenna (KaPDA) for Interplanetary CubeSat Communications allowing moving up from UHF, S or X to get higher gain for a given diameter.

Benefits

Increased science return

Increased competitiveness and data return for smallsats

Increased data return for smallsats

Details

Technology area	Communications, Navigation, and Orbital Debris Tracking and Characterization Systems > Radio Frequency > Innovative Antennas
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: JPL IRAD (JPL IRAD)
Lead organization	Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
Start date	2013-10-01
End date	2017-10-01

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Jonas Zmuidzinas — jonas.zmuidzinas@jpl.nasa.gov
Mark W Thomson — mark.w.thomson@jpl.nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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.