Communication Payload for Satellites
Thorium Space Technology
Modular Ka/X-band communication payload for GEO/MEO satellites with an FPGA-based digital processor and active multi-beam phased array antennas.
Technical specifications
- Digital processor type
- FPGA-based, modular
- Digital processor TRL
- IV
- Ka TX antenna array
- 16×16 radiators
- Ka TX frequency
- 17.7–21.2 GHz
- Ka RX antenna array
- 16×16 radiators
- Ka RX frequency
- 27.5–31 GHz
- Ka module independent beams
- 2 TX + 2 RX
- Ka antenna module TRL
- IV
- SDR module protocol
- DVB-S2
- SDR module TRL
- IV
- X-band active antenna TRL
- III
- X-band passive antenna TRL
- III
- Target orbits
- GEO, MEO
- Development partners
- ESA, Swissto12
About
Thorium Space has developed a flexible telecommunications payload architecture for small geostationary and medium-Earth-orbit (GEO/MEO) communication satellites, created in collaboration with ESA and Swissto12 under the HummingSAT program. The payload is built around a modular FPGA-based digital processor that enables dynamic, in-orbit reallocation of satellite resources in response to variable user demand — eliminating the need to pre-commit frequency or power capacity at launch.
The active antenna subsystem consists of modular multi-beam phased arrays. For Ka band, these include a 16×16-radiator TX module (17.7–21.2 GHz) and a 16×16-radiator RX module (27.5–31 GHz), each supporting dual independent beam generation, both at TRL IV. An SDR module implementing the DVB-S2 protocol acts as the digital transponder. X-band capability is provided through both active and passive flat X-band antenna modules at TRL III.
The modular architecture allows the payload to scale from small GEO satellites to larger missions and to be reconfigured in orbit as coverage or capacity requirements evolve. All subsystems are designed for compatibility with modern small satellite bus platforms and are developed to European space standards in partnership with ESA.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.