QHA Deployable Antenna
Helical Communication Technologies (HCT)
Deployable Quadrifilar Helical Antenna for LEO small satellites, stowable in 1U-12U modules, covering 350 MHz to 3 GHz with patent-pending deployment mechanism.
Technical specifications
- Antenna Type
- Quadrifilar Helical Antenna (QHA), deployable
- Frequency Range
- 350 MHz - 3 GHz
- Polarization
- Circular
- Standard Gain
- ~3 dBic (near-hemispheric)
- High-Gain Variant
- Up to 12 dBi (deep space applications)
- Stowage
- 1U to 12U CubeSat modules
- Flight Heritage
- Since December 2018, multiple missions
- Patent Status
- US patent (2017) for deployable design
About
The HCT QHA (Quadrifilar Helical Antenna) is a deployable circularly polarized antenna designed for LEO small satellites, offering better usable Earth footprints than simple monopole or patch antennas. HCT holds a patent for the deployable QHA design, flight-proven since December 2018 with multiple missions added to its heritage since. The antenna can be tailored for small size with lower coverage or larger size for greater coverage, and stowed within 1U to 12U CubeSat modules. HCT develops QHAs across 350 MHz to 3 GHz, with standard gain just over 3 dBic for near-hemispheric patterns, ISO-Flux patterns for maximum slant range, or high-gain variants up to 12 dBi for lunar and deep space applications.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
