ATLAS Advances Breakthrough Multi-Band, Multi-Mission Capability

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ATLAS Space Operations announced today a series of achievements regarding their revolutionary multi-band, multi-mission (MBMM) phased array antenna system. ATLAS’ prototype antenna is a scalable RF satellite communications system that requires only 10% of the space that comparable hardware solutions require.

ATLAS was awarded a contract through the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) and in partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) for the development of a multi-band, multi-mission antenna system. ATLAS has produced this brand-new phased array antenna that will address critical problems of growth and age within the Air Force’s space-ground communications infrastructure.

The phased-array antenna has recently succeeded in late-stage testing, solidifying its capability as a competitive new MBMM antenna system. Using coherent beam forming, ATLAS engineers are able to accept signals from multiple satellites on one array, which enables more efficient satellite communications, all within a dramatically smaller package. Because the antenna system uses coherent beam forming, there is no limit to the scale that it can achieve, where most systems would require complex degrees of scale for this to be possible — this is an industry first that has risen from this initiative. To date, the team has auto-tracked LEO and GEO satellites using multiple simultaneous contacts, with the antenna ultimately offering the capability to scale its performance many times over with minimal footprint.

The MBMM antenna system is designed to provide a rapidly deployable and cost-efficient satellite communications solution. This new technology is capable of operating in austere environments, rapidly augmenting existing architectures, and conducting simultaneous contacts with multiple spacecraft.

ATLAS Vice President of Global Sales, Ed McCarty, characterized these developments as “Crucial for the future of space communications. With an ever-increasing number of satellites being deployed, the antennas that support the data transfer process need to be modernized. Our team has addressed all of these needs—security, multiple simultaneous contacts, and scalability—in building this new phased array antenna capability. We couldn’t be happier with our progress.”

The phased array antenna represents a natural evolution of technology and services from ATLAS. With this development, ATLAS strikes the right balance of network scalability with robust and proven hardware, while reducing ground architecture costs and providing support that can accommodate mega-constellations. The new phased array is a direct answer to industry-wide growing pains, and provides a customizable, secure, and reliable solution for space communications.

About ATLAS Space Operations:

ATLAS Space Operations is the fastest-growing teleport operator in the world according to the World Teleport Association’s Fast Ten, and was recognized as the 15th fastest-growing software company in the Inc. 5000, placing 102 overall. The company conducts secure and efficient space communications that drive critical decisions on Earth, all supported by Freedom™, ATLAS’ cloud-based platform. Employing a revolutionary approach that is fluid and quick to adapt to industry changes, ATLAS brings data down from space faster and more affordably than ever before. For more information visit www.atlasground.com.