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Completed TRL 5 (started at 5, targeting 5)
This project will develop a new subsystem technology for CubeSats. Integrated Solar-Panel Antenna Array for CubeSats (ISAAC) is an efficient, compact, high gain, low power consumption, lightweight, small volume, X-band antenna array with circularly-polarized radiation to support high data rate downlink. The antenna design is optically transparent (i.e. will not compete for valuable surface real estate), modular, and is independent from the solar cells.
Today's CubeSat system uses either UHF or S-band communication systems with only up to 3 Mbps downlink. With the proposed X- band antenna, the downlink bit rate will be enhanced to 50 Mbps with reasonable modulation and coding. Due to its high performance, ISAAC will play a key role in the link budget and relaxes dependency on complex ground stations, which will consequently reduce the cost of science mission.
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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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