Antaris Inc and Quasar Satellite Technologies have announced a partnership in satellite constellation management.
Under the agreement, Quasar’s digital multibeam Phased Array technology 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 multi-beam 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.