Innovative space start-ups team up to create a software-defined space to ground capability
Shankar Sivaprakasam (left), co-founder, Antaris Inc and Phil Ridley CEO Quasarsat
(Left to right) Dr Tim Parsons, Chair, Aurora Space Cluster, Shankar Sivaprakasam, co-founder, Antaris Inc, Phil Ridley CEO, Quasar Satellite Technologies, Rashmi Karanth, Head of Product, Quasar Satellite Technologies, Michael Boers/ Head of Engineering, Quasar Satellite Technologies, Julie Autuly, Head of Space Tech, Cicada Innovations.
Antaris and Quasar Satellite Technologies partner to bring breakthrough space to ground services through multi-beam phased array connectivity to market
Startups connected as members of SmartSat CRC-backed Aurora Space Cluster
Sydney, and Adelaide, 7 July 2022 – Space start-ups Antaris Inc and Quasar Satellite Technologies today announced a partnership to bring a breakthrough innovation in satellite constellation management to market.
Under the agreement, Quasar’s digital multibeam Phased Array technology, which enables customers to manage spacecraft constellations through a single ground station connection, will be integrated into Antaris Inc’s software-defined Open Satellite Platform.
Antaris Inc Co-founder, Shankar Sivaprakasam said: “We are hugely excited to be partnering with Quasar to help mission owners and satellite operators significantly reduce the cost of managing constellations. Quasar’s digital multi-beam Phased Array ground station is a game-changer. Rather than having to establish links to satellite constellations using multiple ground stations and providers, Quasar’s connectivity from a single station vastly simplifies and creates a cost-effective earth-spacecraft communication. Being able to offer Quasar connectivity-as-a-service via the Antaris software-defined satellite platform for our SaaS customers will give us a significant advantage as we start to roll out our platform to clients across the world.”
Under the agreement, Antaris will be one of Quasar’s first demonstration users once the company’s multibeam service launches in early 2023. Antaris plans to make ground contact from its demonstrator satellite (launching late 2022) via an API service with the company’s S band antenna, and other bands into future. Antaris will then offer Quasar connectivity via its marketplace to customer base, which is expected to include satcomms providers, space agencies, defence and intelligence entities and contractors, and space start-ups.
Quasar Satellite Technologies CEO, Phil Ridley, said “We are looking forward to working with Antaris on building an end-to-end software defined satellite platform for delivering capability to space. The Antaris SaaS marketplace solution for orbiting mission design and management is a perfect match for our flexible ground station solution, and together they offer satellite mission designers a range of choices for developing their satellite capabilities for launch and then communicating with them in a cost-efficient way when in orbit.”
Commenting on the partnership, Aurora Space Cluster Board Chair, Dr Tim Parsons, said: “Collaboration like this is unlocking significant potential within the space technology eco-system. It is fantastic to see Antaris and Quasar working together to offer differentiated space to ground segment services. This partnership will not just benefit both of these high-profile space start-ups as they establish themselves, it reduces costs while simplifying a critical element of constellation management. These in turn creates opportunity for further innovation. It is exciting to see two of our Aurora Space Cluster members making a positive impact to the space sector in Australia, and internationally.
Antaris Inc is a category creating software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering for complete lifecycle management of a mission: from conception to sustainable decommission. The SaaS platform, together with the trusted marketplace, makes the user's journey to design, build, operate and manage a satellite or a constellation with minimal friction.
Quasar Satellite Technologies is a Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS) offering for space communications and space domain awareness. Quasar is developing an Australian capability for multibeam satellite ground stations based on cryogenically cooled phased array antenna technology developed by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. Quasar’s fully digital ground station can communicate with up to 100 satellites simultaneously on the same antenna, greatly increasing the efficiency of access to space whilst reducing communication costs. Quasar will fully support open satellite communication standards for maximum interoperability.
The Aurora Space Cluster connects early and growth-stage start-up and scale-up companies with mentors, supporting partners, corporates, and aerospace primes to create opportunities for commercial and R&D collaboration and growth. A member-focused organisation, Aurora is itself a start-up, created by a diverse founding board with support from its parent organisation, SmartSat CRC. For more information, visit www.auroraspacecluster.com.