MELBOURNE, Fla. and
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.,
April 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Use of Ka-band provides high throughput; improves on-orbit
performance and capacity
- Unique design reduces stowed volume and antenna mass
- Markets range from satellite Internet service providers to oil
and gas exploration companies
(National Space Symposium, Booth 400) – Harris
Corporation (NYSE: HRS), an international communications and
information technology company, today introduced an unfurlable
space antenna designed to support emerging requirements for
high-throughput Ka-band satellites.
The new Harris Ka-band antenna
greatly increases the gain and potential spot beams currently
available to spacecraft manufacturers and service providers.
The increased frequency reuse provided by the additional spot
beams enables higher data rates required by providers of
bandwidth-hungry services such as satellite Internet, HDTV and 3D
TV, and by businesses that transfer large amounts of data between
remote locations, such as oil and gas companies and maritime
users.
The antenna features flight-proven design elements that have
been refined during development and production for US government
and commercial programs, including the application of reflective
mesh, surface-shaping technology and thermally stable materials.
The antenna's architecture leverages Harris' robust radial
rib structure reflector design, 40 of which are currently in
operation. The projected aperture ranges from 3.5 meters to 8
meters in diameter, with a compact stowed configuration suitable
for most launch vehicles.
During launch, the Harris reflectors are stowed onboard the
satellite much like an umbrella. Once in orbit, controllers
execute a series of maneuvers, and then send commands to deploy an
articulating boom and unfurl the reflector.
"This new Ka-band product is a natural extension of our existing
offerings for larger apertures, and continues our 35-year legacy of
providing high-performance antenna solutions with unmatched
performance," said Sheldon Fox,
group president, Harris Government Communications Systems.
"The Harris solution supports the ever-increasing global
demand for higher bandwidth capacity."
With more than 50 reflectors in orbit, Harris is the leading
supplier of large reflector apertures and deployable mesh
reflector-feed antenna systems. Offerings span UHF band
through Ka-band, in sizes ranging from 5 meters to the world's
largest commercially available 22-meter reflector. Harris
reflector products have the highest surface accuracy design in the
industry, while substantially exceeding the specified mean mission
duration of the spacecraft and payload.
For more information, visit
http://www.govcomm.harris.com/solutions/segments/000007.asp.
About Harris Corporation
Harris is an international communications and information
technology company serving government and commercial markets in
more than 150 countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has
approximately $6 billion of annual
revenue and more than 16,000 employees — including nearly 7,000
engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing
best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and
services. Additional information about Harris Corporation is
available at www.harris.com.
SOURCE Harris Corporation