Celestia completed testing of its JoeySat multiple-beam Ka-band gateway, clearing the way for its production. Having operated for nine months without maintenance, JoeySat provides satcom without service or attention. The gateway (see image above) has minimal moving parts and can withstand severe climates and harsh environments.
Development of the multibeam antenna system was aided by testing JoeySat at different altitudes and under rigorous operating conditions. Support was provided by the Sunrise Partnership Program run by the Connectivity and Secure Communications Directorate of the European Space Agency (ESA). Additional funding came from the UK Space Agency and was made possible by collaboration of industry partners, including Eutelsat OneWeb, MDA Space, and the Dundee Ground Station.
Celestia's CEO, Dr. Malachy Devlin, noted, “This achievement underscores the strength of our Ka-band gateway technology, paving the way for broader deployment.” He explained its importance for the satellite industry: “A maintenance-free system with high reliability and operational efficiency is a game-changer for the satellite industry, and we are excited to take the next step towards production capability.”
ESA’s Nicolas Girault added, “The extensive testing of the gateway multibeam electronic antenna system with JoeySat orbiting at different altitudes, in challenging conditions, has proven the robustness of this innovative technology, providing an attractive solution for constellations where a high number of satellites are visible from a single point on earth.”
The antenna technology is capable of tracking and linking with as many as 28 satellites simultaneously.
