SBIR-STTR Award

To address the Navy’s need for a high-performance UHF antenna for nanosatellites, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Self-Orienting Low-Drag UHF Nanosatellite Antenna (SOLUNA). This proposed device is based on a compact, high-performance UHF antenna, and a novel low-drag, self-orienting mechanical design. The integration of state-of-the-art antenna technology with a novel self-orienting low-drag mechanical design will enable SOLUNA to offer 11 dB gain, right-hand circularly polarized, in the 280-400 MHz band while maintaining a low-drag cross-section of 10 cm x 10 cm and maintain a communications link with ground receivers for up to two years of operational life in low Earth orbit (LEO). As a result, this system offers simultaneous transmitting and receiving over a 700 km range and maintains a 400 km altitude LEO for 2 years, which directly address the Mobile User Objective System program requirements for a CubeSat-based UHF antenna. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of SOLUNA by developing a system design; modeling the antenna’s performance, size, and weight; and estimating mission life based on atmospheric drag. In Phase II, POC plans to develop a prototype that will be evaluated and demonstrated in a simulated space environment.

Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes, in Phase II, to mature the first-of-its-kind Self-Orienting Low-Drag UHF Nanosatellite Antenna (SOLUNA), developed and proven feasible in Phase I. The SOLUNA design provides over 9 dBi right-hand circularly polarized (RHCP) gain in the Mobile User Objective System 300-320 MHz and 360-380 MHz bands, meets CubeSat Design Specifications, including mass and volume, and has low atmospheric drag, ensuring at least 2 years of operational life in a low-earth-orbit environment. An associated full-duplex transceiver for up to 1 watt transmit power and -100 dBm receive sensitivity was designed by POC, as well as a passive attitude control mechanism that aligns and stabilizes the satellite in roll, pitch, and yaw, and ensures that the satellite is oriented in the direction of minimum drag with the antenna directed toward the Earth. In Phase II, a prototype antenna and duplexer will be developed based on the Phase I design. The performance of the prototype will be evaluated at a UHF antenna range and in a thermal vacuum representative of the envisioned low-earth-orbit. Based on the outcome of these tests, the SOLUNA design will be refined and its concept of operations updated.