Russian scientists have created a low-orbit complex for high-speed inter-satellite and ground communications. It is based on the technology of active phased array antenna (AESA). This was reported by the press service of the National Technology Initiative.
The NTI said that the startup is aimed at creating a Russian analogue of Starlink. The fund hopes that the project will develop two-way satellite communications on a global scale.
The technology developed by Siberian students will allow the creation of products exclusively from domestic components. The complex consists of two small CubeSAT 6U spacecraft, which are produced using the new space AESA technology.
The main difference from previous models is the use of domestic microwave electronics, microcontrollers, FPGAs, proprietary transceiver modules and radio engineering systems.
The NTI announced its intention to launch up to 192 satellites in low Earth orbits. This complex will perform a variety of functions: transmitting and receiving information, conducting research in the field of agriculture, and analyzing the movement of vehicles.
The goal of the project is to develop new markets for satellite communications, near-space infrastructure, remote sensing technologies, and radio communications.
The NTI also reported that the development of the orbital AESA complex is still ongoing. Tests of antenna array prototypes for CubeSAT microsatellites have been successfully carried out in the stratosphere.
The developers of the low-orbit complex are a team from Tomsk National Research University, Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics, and Kazan National Research Technical University named after Tupolev.
Earlier in Russia, tests of the first domestic satellite communication system for medium-class unmanned aerial vehicles began. The development opens up new horizons for UAVs, significantly increasing their range.
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