Antaris Teams Up with Almagest and XDLINX for E-band satcoms

Antaris Teams Up with Almagest and XDLINX for E-band satcoms
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 29, 2024

In a groundbreaking development poised to redefine the landscape of satellite communications, Antaris, a front-runner in software platforms for space missions, has joined forces with the US-based Almagest Space Corporation and India's XDLINX Labs.

This strategic alliance aims to pioneer the delivery of cutting-edge software for XDLINX's forthcoming XDSAT-NS satellite, which will be equipped with one of the first miniaturized, space-grade E-band communication payloads. This technology is being developed by XDLINX as a key component of Almagest's ambitious Elevation E-band technology demonstration mission, slated for launch later in 2024.

The collaboration heralds a significant leap forward in satellite communication technology, promising to unlock unparalleled levels of RF communications throughput. The Elevation mission is set to furnish Almagest with crucial data, underpinning its plans to deploy a satellite network dedicated to ultra-high throughput data delivery services.

With an eye towards future expansion, Almagest has outlined its TwinStar mission, which envisages the launch of two satellites to kickstart limited commercial service in the 2025-2026 timeframe.

At the heart of the Elevation mission is the Antaris Cloud Platform, an integrated suite of advanced software solutions encompassing the Antaris Design Studio, the next-generation TrueTwin digital twinning simulation environment, and the robust SatOS spacecraft software.

This platform is engineered to streamline the mission and spacecraft design processes, enhance simulation fidelity, and simplify mission operations. The result is a dramatic acceleration of the time-to-orbit, alongside a significant reduction in mission operating costs-estimated at a 2X faster launch timeline and 10X lower operating expenses.

Tom Barton, CEO and Co-Founder of Antaris, underscored the transformative potential of the partnership, stating, "With its goal of increasing RF communications throughput beyond what anyone else is doing today, Almagest is pushing the boundaries of space innovation. We're proud to be the software provider for the Elevation mission and to be part of redefining the future of space communications."

The collaboration underscores a shared vision among the partnering firms to overcome the traditional constraints of space missions. Raghu Das, CEO and Co-Founder of Almagest Space Corporation, highlighted the strategic advantages of utilizing Antaris' TrueTwin simulation environment, noting, "In the space economy, the true cost of doing business is measured in time. Using Antaris' TrueTwin simulation environment, Almagest can 'fly' our mission very early in the planning process, which saves time and resources. We're thrilled to have Antaris as a partner on the Elevation mission."

Echoing the sentiment of collaboration and innovation, Rupesh Gandupalli, CEO and Co-Founder of XDLINX Labs, remarked on the importance of synergy in achieving technological breakthroughs, "The Elevation mission is a collaboration of teams from different companies around the world. Our Ready-to-Fly satellite bus Platform with Antaris Cloud Platform makes it possible for everyone to collaborate seamlessly, and that's a gamechanger for anyone working in space technology."