Orbital Composites Secures SBIR Grant from US Space Force to develop Quantum Antennas for Secure Communications
The Award Will Accelerate Development of Antennas Based on Cutting-edge Quantum Physics Theory.
Campbell, CA. – August 29, 2023 – Orbital Composites, a leading in-space additive manufacturing company, today announced that it has been awarded a SBIR contract from the U.S. Space Force to further develop its patented “quantum antenna”. The 3D printable quantum antenna holds the potential to transform high-capacity, secure communications to, from, and in space.
In an era where data-driven solutions and communication infrastructure become paramount for space exploration and terrestrial applications alike, the importance of powerful and efficient antennas cannot be overstated. Orbital Composites' novel approach taps into quantum principles, setting a new gold standard for the industry.
The timing of this innovation is impeccable, given the burgeoning demand for new ground station antennas. As the ground station market continues its rapid ascent – driven by satellite constellations, broadband internet projects, and other telecommunications initiatives – Orbital Composites is poised to address this demand effectively and efficiently.
Orbital’s 3D printed Ground Station Antennas and Radomes
But the ambitions of Orbital Composites don't just remain terrestrial. By harnessing the potential of In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM), the company eyes the prospect of creating significantly larger space antennas. By fabricating antennas in space, larger and more complex designs are possible that eliminate the constraints of launch and rocket fairings.
Orbital’s Antenna Factory in Space
In line with recent reports, the space antenna market has seen substantial growth, driven by advancements in satellite technologies and deep-space exploration endeavors. With ISAM, the promise of more affordable and scalable solutions could potentially reshape the trajectory of this market. What makes this prospect even more tantalizing is the company's assertion that these can be developed at nearly 100X lower cost than current methodologies.
Orbital’s quantum antennas could enable breakthrough capabilities across the space economy:
Connecting LEO broadband mega-constellations to mobile devices worldwide
Ultra-secure military communications resistant to jamming and interception
Higher-bandwidth links between satellites and ground stations
Enabling deep space communications with the Moon, Mars, and beyond
Unlocking higher-resolution sensors for space-to-Earth (EO) and space-to-space (SDA and SSA) use cases
“Orbital approach to antennas represents a quantum leap in functionality,” said Cole Nielsen, Founder and CTO of Orbital Composites. “With >100x cost reduction, our Quantum Antennas will enable global scale broadband and clean energy.”
“With LEO constellations propping up everywhere, we already have a big bottleneck facing ground stations,” said Amolak Badesha, Co-founder and CEO of Orbital Composites. “This technology promises to relieve these bottlenecks, and eventually, pave the way for making giant antennas on orbit, for applications like space-based solar and direct-to-cell broadband.”
Orbital Composites recently announced that it has secured a total of three SBIR contracts, including the quantum antenna award detailed in today’s announcement. Earlier this year, Orbital Composites also won a $1.7 million, Direct-to-Phase II grant from the USSF and SpaceWerx. The company won this SBIR contract, announced in July, in conjunction with partners from Axiom Space, Northrop Grumman, and Southwest Research Institute.
Altogether, Orbital’s government contracts exceed $6.5 million and represent a continuation of Orbital Composites’ leadership in merging digital manufacturing and composite material design for the aerospace, defense, and energy sectors.
About Orbital Composites:
Orbital Composites is an advanced aerospace engineering company based in Campbell, CA. The company specializes in applying novel materials and 3D printing techniques to produce complex, high-performance systems at dramatically lower cost and lead time for space, defense, and commercial applications. Orbital Composites is a leader in areas like digital manufacturing, in-space servicing, advanced thermal management, and communications systems. For more information, visit orbitalcomposites.com.