This project addresses a real operational need to reduce the Satellite Communications (SatCom) equipment weight burden on the war fighter and in addition will demonstrate that commercial SatCom can be used effectively to communicate securely, with significantly higher data rates and capacity than is currently possible. Traditional SatCom solutions provide secure voice and data communications for soldiers on the battlefield but are often expensive, bulky, heavy, and consume significant power. Oxford Space Systems (OSS) and Viasat will collaborate to develop an innovative small, lightweight and low cost portable deployable SatCom antenna and terminal solution. SWaP stands for Size, Weight, and Power, in this context it means reducing the overall dimensions and weight of a device while increasing its efficiency and usability.

Unlike satellite based optical Earth Observation systems that rely on reflected solar radiation or thermal radiation emitted by Earth, imaging radar instruments work independently of light and heat. Radar is an active system that transmits a beam of radiation in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can provide day-and-night imagery of Earth. A key advantage of this technique is that clouds, fog and precipitation do not have any significant effect on microwaves, so images can also be acquired independent of weather conditions. Depending on the frequency band of the radar system considerable penetration can be achieved into vegetation, dry soil, ice and snow. This makes SAR the technology of choice for geoscience and Earth monitoring. The proposed project will focus on the development of an innovative deployable SAR antenna for space applications. It will enable Oxford Space Systems to build an antenna suitable for an in orbit demonstration as well as undertaking further technical development of the innovative deployable SAR wrapped rib antenna This is a promising antenna variant, known as 'wrapped rib' is gaining increasing interest across the global space industry with its combination of excellent RF performance with low mass and small stowed volume.. These types of antennas remain stowed during their transit from Earth to space and deploy into their final configuration once their intended orbit is reached. The ultimate goal of an improved SAR antenna design is to enable the acquisition of real-time, high-resolution images of the Earth from space. This can be achieved through satellite constellations carrying wideband, high frequency, high-gain SAR antennas.

Oxford Space Systems (OSS) is a multi-award winning early-stage technology business which is commercialisation a new generation of deployable structures for the global space industry. Although an essential part of many geostationary telecomms satellites - and predicted to form a critical part of a large number of low earth orbit microsat satellite contellations - Europe currently does not have a flight-proven and commercially available deployable reflector antenna. The EU relies upon the USA for all flight hardware and suffers cost penalties and technical restrictictions as a result. OSS will develop and characterise a highly innovative reflector surface material, together with new manufacturing processes, intended to provide a disruptive and cost-competitive UK alternative for the space sector. This novel antenna surface material will permit OSS to offer a cutting-edge UK product to the global space market: an antenna that is lighter, less complex and lower cost than those in current commercial demand.

Oxford Space Systems (OSS) is an awarding-winning early-stage technology business focused on developing a new generation of deployable structures for the global space industry. The diverse and experienced OSS team is rapidly establishing itself as an innovative & agile supplier to the space sector. Although an essential part of many geostationary telecomms satellites - and likely to form a critical part of a large number of smaller low earth orbit (LEO) satellites - Europe currently does not have a flight-proven Large Deployable reflector Antenna (LDA). The EU presently relies upon the US for all LDAs. The European Space Agency (ESA) recently published a Working Group report which concluded, “From the European industry point of view, there is an absolute dependence on the USA”, and, “Large reflector technologies are considered a fundamental requirement to maintain commercial and strategic competitiveness”. This was further echoed in a document published this year, “Critical Space Technologies for European Strategic Non-Dependence”, produced by the European Commission, ESA, and the European Defence Agency. LDAs fall into two families: Offset Feed and Cassegrain configurations. OSS has already developed an innovative and highly scalable Offset Feed LDA to TRL3 that is significantly lower in mass, cost and complexity than current offerings from the USA. OSS has been approached by a USA based company to explore the development of a Cassegrain LDA. This is for a proposed constellation of up to 35 LEO microsats scheduled for launch in Q4 2018. Having profiled its outline concept to the potential customer, OSS are confident that a significant export order can be secured if a prototype can be presented by mid- 2017. In addition, OSS has similar interest from both Eu and Canadian companies. Securing matched funding via this SMART award will enable the rapid development of a UK space technology that has excellent export potential to Europe, USA and beyond.

To develop rolled composite materials and supporting analytical models in order to predict and characterise material behaviour for space. To achieve flight-ready status for the material for use in a range of commercial satellite deployable systems.

As a spin out of technology developed for structures destined for a life in space, Oxford Space Systems has developed an innovative, jam-resistant slider that can significantly reduce jamming in 'self-synchronized' stowable consumer items such as push-chairs, baby cots, ironing boards, clothes lines, gazebos etc - any product where an element is required to slide along another. The combination of surprisingly low friction, low cost and a simple design means the Oxford Space Systems slider should prove attractive to manufacturers and end customers alike. The slider is anticipated to be easy to incorporate in existing designs as a low cost replacement of exiting sliding parts. A more advanced version for industrial applications would enable the degree of distortion / compliance to be measured via low cost & commercial available internal sense elements.

Oxford Sapce System's objective is to design, construct and demonstrate an Engineering Model flight concept telescopic boom that meets the technical and commercial requirements of several commercial space sector opportunities identified. The functioning prototype will permit the demonstration of the design's key attributes: footprint efficiency, low mass, scalable design and a highly novel drive system based upon bi-stable rolled composite material. The latter enables the service requirements of a payload, such as gas and electrical feeds, to be directly embedded into the rolled composite material thus producing a much simplified and more reliable means of payload accommodation. Applications of the boom include electric propulsion, payload positioning, antenna systems and de-orbiting structures for space debris mitigation. The project’s prototype will be used to engage potential customers and serve as the basis to progress development toward flight level status. OSS view their boom project as a catalyst for accelerating UK ion-thruster development by virtue of having a unique combination of UK technologies to offer platform builders exploring all-electric platform options . Oxford Space Systems also anticipate the prototype being available for outreach activity with schools and universities interested in UK engineering and space activities.