The design, manufacturing and rigorous testing of the CarbSAR satellite and Wrapped Rib Antenna has been conducted in a joint collaboration between OSS and SSTL, with additional funding provided by the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF), the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) and by Airbus Defence and Space.
For Oxford Space Systems, in addition to providing flight heritage and demonstration of the Wrapped Rib Antenna technology to potential customers, this project has also enabled OSS to build its industrial capability, leveraging its existing carbon composite manufacturing and metal mesh facilities, and has provided valuable test data which OSS is able to use on other key projects. These include the UK Government’s earth observation Oberon programme for which OSS is providing Wrapped Rib Antennas to Airbus Defence and Space.
“Passing the Flight Readiness Review is an important milestone for Oxford Space Systems,” commented Sean Sutcliffe, Chief Executive at Oxford Space Systems. “It demonstrates the maturity of our wrapped rib technology, and also the strength of our UK supply chain and manufacturing capabilities. We are grateful for customer and government-backed innovation programmes that are helping us industrialise deployable antenna manufacturing for the global market as we continue our strong, export driven growth trajectory.”
Andrew Cawthorne, Managing Director at SSTL commented “We are delighted to collaborate with Oxford Space Systems on this groundbreaking mission. The successful completion of the Flight Readiness Review highlights the synergy between SSTL’s CarbSAR Satellite and OSS’ innovative Wrapped Rib Antenna, paving the way for a transformative capability in compact SAR Earth observation.”
About CarbSAR
CarbSAR utilises the platform heritage of the Carbonite series and combines it with an innovative deployable X-band SAR payload to provide high resolution imaging capabilities night and day, whatever the weather. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery can provide diverse surveillance intelligence like optical images but, deriving from an active sensor, is not subject to favourable solar illumination or weather conditions considered.
About the Wrapped Rib Antenna
The Wrapped Rib Antenna is a high-performing, stowage-efficient, and scalable deployable antenna suitable for a wide range of satellite missions. Its successful qualification testing not only secures readiness for the in-orbit demonstration in partnership with SSTL but also provides invaluable performance data for other export programmes using the same architecture. Building on OSS’s proven heritage of delivering deployable antennas now operating in orbit, this information aids the development of future UK and international missions, reinforcing the company’s position as a leading provider of advanced deployable antenna solutions for both government and commercial customers.
About Oxford Space Systems
Oxford Space Systems is a UK venture capital-backed, growth-stage space technology business founded in 2013 with a vision to be the global leader in deployable antennas for space. Based in Oxfordshire, with facilities on the Harwell Campus and in Abingdon highly customised for composites and metal mesh manufacturing, Oxford Space Systems can reliably produce batches of antennas for customers’ satellite constellation programmes across a range of antenna products. With customers based in all geographical regions, the company is growing through exports and driving innovation in the global space sector.
About SSTL
Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), based in Guildford, United Kingdom, and owned by Airbus Defence and Space has been at the forefront of small satellite innovation for over four decades and 74 satellite missions. With a strong reputation for reliability and cutting-edge technology, SSTL specialises in the design and manufacture of small satellite platforms, customer training programmes and complete satellite missions.
About NSSIF
The National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) is the Government’s corporate venturing arm for dual-use advanced technologies.
NSSIF invests commercially, alongside other investors in innovative start-ups, whose advanced technologies have application potential in the private sector and national security and defence community.