SWISSto12’s 3D printed innovative Ka band antenna feed chain to fly in Q4 2018 on NSLSat1, the world’s highest throughput nanosatellite (N-HTS)

SWISSto12 has recently supplied a Ka band antenna feed chain for flight onto NSLSat-1 due for launch in end of Q4 2018. This telecommunication satellite features a highly innovative deployable and adaptable reflector system that will allow for in flight tracking of users on the ground. NSLSat-1 is also the highest throughput nanosatellite containing advanced payload which includes an aluminium 3D printed RF system supplied by SWISSto12. Both companies have started collaborating in 2017 and managed to quickly ramp-up their activities to jointly design an RF sub-system which was then manufactured and tested by SWISSto12 in a record short time with the help of its disruptive 3D printing technology.

Emile de Rijk, CEO of SWISSto12 quoted: “We are very pleased to work with our partner NSLComm on one of the first flight hardware launches of a SWISSto12 3D printed product into orbit. This launch along with others to come in 2018 pave the way towards a broader acceptance and use of SWISSto12’s highly performing and competitive 3D printed RF products onboard satellites.”

Picture: The innovative antenna feed-chain including SWISSto12’s 3D printed RF sub-system composed of waveguides, filters, a polarizer and an orthomode transducer.