Ka Band Transponder
Paradigma Technologies
Redundant 2U Ka Band transponder system for CubeSats with dual transponders, high-gain corrugated horn antenna, and 30 krad radiation tolerance. Space heritage Q2 2024.
Technical specifications
- RF Output Frequency
- 17.3 – 21.2 GHz
- RF Input Frequency
- 27.0 – 31.0 GHz
- Antenna Gain
- 23 dBi dual-band corrugated horn, LHCP/RHCP selectable in orbit
- RF Output Power
- Digitally selectable up to 2 W
- Noise Figure
- < 3 dB
- Signal bandwidth
- Configurable 10 – 250 MHz
- MER
- > 35 dB
- Power (operating)
- 19 W max
- Input voltage
- 11 – 32 V
- Mass
- 1.6 kg
- Dimensions
- 2U
- Operating temperature
- -30°C to +60°C
- Radiation tolerance
- 30 krad qualified; internal dosimeter up to 100 krad
- Interfaces
- 4x CAN, 2x RS-422/485; CSP compatible; 4x programmable GPIO
- Qualification standard
- ECSS-E-ST-10-03C, GEVS GSFC-STD-70006
- Space heritage
- Q2 2024
About
Paradigma Technologies’ Ka Band Transponder is a miniaturized plug-and-play redundant transponder system designed for high reliability in LEO and GEO CubeSat and SmallSat missions. It integrates two Ka Band transponders in a 2U package with a dual-band corrugated horn antenna (23 dBi, LHCP/RHCP configurable in orbit). It supports transparent and regenerative (bent-pipe) transponder modes, standalone transmitter/receiver modes, and beacon generation. The OOK/ASK/FSK Receiver front-end operates at 27.0–31.0 GHz; the transmitter output covers 17.3–21.2 GHz with up to 2 W RF output power. An internal modem supports ASK/OOK (up to 2 Mbps) and n-FSK (up to 1 Mbps). Dual rad-hard 300 MIPS MCUs and dual 16 MB rad-tolerant flash with quad 32 kB rad-hard SRAM provide robust processing. The unit is 30 krad radiation qualified and incorporates an internal dosimeter. Space heritage confirmed Q2 2024. The chassis is AL7075-T6 and qualifies to ECSS-E-ST-10-03C and GEVS GSFC-STD-70006.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
