NSLComm

NSLComm is an Israel-based satellite manufacturing company designing fabric-like, flexible dish antennas that expand in space to offer high throughput communications for small satellites. The company was founded by CEO Raz Itzhaki and launched its first prototype in July 2019.

The company is aimed at helping LEO constellations that are either planned or in the process of manufacturing, at an estimated overall revenue potential exceeding $60 billion. A large challenge future operators face is the CAPEX sum needed to cover the cost of manufacturing, launch and thereafter their constellation maintenance. NSLComm's proprietary technology enables reduction of the satellite weight & launch volume, thus making it possible to reduce the CAPEX of each conceived constellation by a factor of about 10, resulting in an immediate economic benefit for the enterprise seeking to fund its constellation construction and launch.

NSLComm's satellites don't rely on cellular towers, offering superior performance and flexibility. The company's nano-satellites weigh around 8 kg (17 pounds) and can transmit data up to 2 gigabytes per second, which normally would require a satellite the size of a washing machine, that weighs around 100 kg (220 pounds). By being ten times lighter and smaller, the cost of this type of communication would then be equivalent to that of fiber optics, or other competing technologies, and can offer a competitive alternative in both populated and remote areas.

The satellites differ from standard satellites because they are small with large dishes, this allows them to operate as an entire satellite constellation, instead of a single one while still offering a large service area. This makes them cheaper to build and offers a higher profit margin, becoming affordable enough to be competitive against fiber or cell communications options.

Once released, the main reflector expands to the desired diameter, and its built-in shape memory polymer is automatically calibrated to achieve the required performance. The large aperture antenna is made of advanced materials, with a near-zero thermal expansion, suitable for the harsh environment of space. The product allows increased bandwidth (up to 10X for GEO and 100X for LEO), adaptive in-orbit footprint control, lower price per bit to the end-user, significantly lower stowed mass and volume for faster market growth.

A flexible sub-reflector mounted on a rigid base with multiple control points. The product's FlexoSub uses a unique adaptive error correction system to compensate for reflector surface errors and optimizes and "shapes'" the surface of the main reflector. This patented technology provides the payload flexibility that satellite operators need to keep up with today's frequently changing markets.