Orbital wins $1.7m Space Force contract to manufacture antennas in space

Collaborating with Axiom Space, Northrop Grumman, and Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), Orbital will be working on two applications: Satellite-Based Cellular Broadband (SBCB) and Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP).

Large antennas are needed for SBCB, and exceptionally large (km-scale) antennas are needed for SBSP, highlights the company. Both require high-volume and low-cost manufacturing processes and ISAM capabilities.

The idea is that directly manufacturing and assembling antennas in Space could dramatically reduce the costs of deployment, enabling new commercial opportunities.

Specifically, the award is a Space Force SpaceWERX Orbital Prime Direct-to-Phase-II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract.

“Orbital envisions a future where space infrastructure is no longer bound by the limitations of traditional earth-based manufacturing and assembly methods”, says the Co-founder and CEO of Orbital, Amolak Badesha.

“Our robotic ISAM platform represents a quantum leap in the way we construct and maintain space-based structures. Through cutting-edge 3D printing technology and advanced robotics, Orbital is unlocking unprecedented possibilities for scientific advancement, national security, and commercial space ventures.”

Last month, Orbital signed an MOU with Virtus Solis to build the first MW-scale SBSP station.

The company – which is based in Campbell, California – plans to launch its first Space Factory module within the next three-to-five years, it says.

Image: Orbital

See also: Redwire plans PIL-BOX space-based drug manufacturing platform