In a recent announcement to Alliance members, Angel Smith, Executive Director of the SmallSat Alliance, welcomed FreeFall with the following message:

“We’re excited to announce that FreeFall Aerospace has joined the SmallSat Alliance! Their innovative approach to satellite communications and antenna design is a powerful addition to our growing community of industry leaders and visionaries.

Born from high-frequency radio astronomy research at the University of Arizona, FreeFall Aerospace brings a truly unique perspective to new-space innovation. Their lightweight, low-power, high-performance antenna systems—both in space and on the ground—are redefining what’s possible for smallsat connectivity.

As a proud new member of the Alliance, FreeFall is eager to support our shared mission to advance connectivity for commercial, government, and defense applications—from Earth to the Moon and beyond.”

FreeFall’s groundbreaking antenna technology—rooted in decades of academic research and refined through commercial and defense deployments—offers a game-changing solution for modern space missions. With steerable, scalable, and energy-efficient systems, FreeFall is helping bridge the gap between small satellite form factors and high-performance communications.

“We’re honored to be part of such a forward-thinking and mission-driven community,” said Doug Stetson, FreeFall’s Founder and Chief Strategy Officer. “The Alliance’s work aligns perfectly with our vision to ……”

As FreeFall becomes more actively involved in Alliance activities, the team looks forward to upcoming events, collaborations, and shared initiatives that further the goal of advancing space-based connectivity.

For more information or partnership inquiries, please contact info@freefallaerospace.com.

The post FreeFall joins the SmallSat Alliance appeared first on FreeFall Aerospace.

The post FreeFall Aerospace Celebrates Tucson Changemakers Grant appeared first on FreeFall Aerospace.

The post Technology Marketing Panel with FreeFall’s Julie Bonner appeared first on FreeFall Aerospace.

Ready for lift-off, the novel inflatable antenna system developed by FreeFall Aerospace is validated and ready for space! In partnership with the University of Arizona (UA), FreeFall successfully conducted extensive pre-flight tests, the last step before flying in space. These tests validate operation and performance in a simulated space environment from launch through the entire mission lifetime. Our Inflatable Antenna System has now been integrated for flight on the CatSat spacecraft and will ultimately provide Big Data from Small Spacecraft for a wide variety of missions.

Inflatable Cubesat Antenna

This novel inflatable antenna system developed by Tucson technology company FreeFall Aerospace, in conjunction with the University of Arizona, is a critical component of CatSat, one of eight research satellites to be launched aboard a Firefly launch vehicle now set for no earlier than January 2023. The satellites selected under NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative will perform technology demonstrations, conduct scientific investigations, and provide educational benefits.

 

The FreeFall Aerospace Inflatable Antenna System components include a lightweight Mylar balloon reflector, a deployment and inflation system, and small gas cartridges.

TVAC Test: FreeFall Aerospace Inflatable Antenna System

Science / Technology Question:

How can low power, high data rate communications be achieved with a Small Satellite?

Demonstrate a deployable, high-gain antenna by relaying high-definition images from orbit in near real-time.

CatSat Mission Requirements:

 

The FreeFall Aerospace antenna system utilizes an ultra-lightweight inflatable structure that can be stowed in a very small volume. Once deployed in orbit, it provides an extremely lightweight large aperture high-gain antenna. This approach will dramatically increase the total data return and overall effectiveness of Cubesats and other small satellites. The Principal Investigator of CatSat is Dr. Chris Walker, professor of Astronomy at UA and co-founder of FreeFall Aerospace. The Lead Mechanical & Systems Engineer is FreeFall’s, Aman Chandra.

 

CatSat is a 6U CubeSat built by GOMspace of Denmark that is now being integrated and tested by UA students from various departments, including Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Astronomy, Computer Science, and Electrical and Computer Engineering. It allows undergraduate and graduate students to get hands-on experience developing and operating a space mission and involves dozens of UA students across campus.

Once in orbit, the FreeFall antenna will deploy using compressed gas to inflate a 0.5-meter diameter Mylar spherical reflector incorporating a proprietary feed system.  Through the inflatable antenna, CatSat will transmit high-definition Earth imagery in real-time to a 6.1 m ground station antenna at Tech Parks Arizona. A second “whip” antenna will also be used to probe how Earth’s ionosphere structure varies at different times of the day. CatSat will orbit Earth approximately 15 times a day during its expected 6-month lifetime.

“Qualifying our inflatable antenna is a crucial step for FreeFall Aerospace, the University of Arizona, and Tucson’s developing space ecosystem. We’re looking forward to making this capability available for commercial, scientific, and government space missions.”

Doug Stetson, CEO of FreeFall Aerospace

The post The FreeFall Aerospace Inflatable Antenna System is Ready for Launch appeared first on FreeFall Aerospace.

The post Arizona Space Innovators appeared first on FreeFall Aerospace.

Phoenix Business Journal
By Steve Zylstra | Dec 16, 2021

FreeFall Aerospace is developing revolutionary antenna technology for ground, air, and space. Spherical antennas offer a wide field of view, efficient beam steering, and low mass to simplify and improve satellite communications. This allows entire constellations of low-cost satellites to be integrated in a complete communications network. The technology is based on research in high-frequency radio astronomy at The University of Arizona.

Read Full Article at Phoenix Business Journal:
On many clear evenings, it’s no surprise to see me casting my eyes to the stars. That’s especially true when I’m reflecting on my past while considering what lies ahead in our future.

One of the early stops in my career found me working as a principal engineer at Ford Aerospace. Even then, I knew space held the potential for paydays. Little did I realize that the commercial space industry was going to help sustain Arizona’s economy for years to come in Arizona.

There are a number of companies in the Valley and beyond that have used our state as the launch pad for ideas leading to enterprises offering products and services ranging from satellites orbiting the earth to space tourism in the next few years.

In the East Valley, the name Northrop Grumman is behind two campuses. Gilbert is home to a new administrative and engineering building created to expand the company’s Northrop Grumman’s multi-building satellite manufacturing campus, which was already one of the largest of its kind in the nation. Clients include NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense and commercial customers. A few years ago, a campus was opened in neighboring Chandler to serve as home to Northrop Grumman’s launch vehicles business.

Tempe is the home of KinetX Aerospace, the first private company qualified by NASA for deep space navigation. In addition, it offers world-class expertise flight dynamics, operations and systems engineering. The KinetX Space Navigation and Flight Dynamics team has navigated spacecraft on complex planetary exploration missions such as OSIRIS-REx, MESSENGER and New Horizons. KinetX also specializes in the design, development and operation of large-scale space systems including Iridium.

Speaking of Iridium, which has its business operations in Tempe, the company offers the only mobile voice and data satellite communications network that links people, organizations and assets to and from anywhere around the world in real time. In 2019, the company completed an upgrade of its satellite network and launched its new specialty broadband service, Iridium Certus.

Stretching to Tucson

Arizona’s commercial space corridor also stretches south to Tucson. Paragon Space Development Corporation has worked on every major human space flight program since 1999 and its hardware has flown on NASA spacecraft (e.g., Space Shuttle, International Space Station), foreign spacecraft (e.g., Soyuz, Mir) and commercial spacecraft.

Paragon’s expertise in engineering, design, analysis and manufacturing combined with its patented ECLSS Human-Rating Facility and Testing Facilities has made it a leader in the development of innovative life support and thermal control solutions. The company is part of the Northrop Grumman team that will create the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) for the Lunar Gateway outpost planned to orbit the moon.

Want to get a closer look at the moon but don’t think you’ll make the cut for NASA? World View Enterprises is the creator of the Explorer Stratospheric Capsule that will use balloons to take you and others to the stratosphere as soon as early 2024 for $50,000 each. The memorable moment will be seeing the Earth’s curvature against the blackness of space.

It’s worth noting that Paragon and World View share a common pedigree. Both companies were founded by Taber MacCallum and Jane Poynter, who have launched the company Space Perspective in Florida. The company’s Spaceship Neptune will be lifted by a SpaceBalloon for an experience similar to that being marketed by World View.

Back in Tucson, Phantom Space Corp. helps companies design, build and integrate spacecraft from single small spacecraft to the complete buildout of constellations. With a track record of successful satellite programs, spacecraft design and various space missions, one of its products is Daytona, a mass-manufactured expendable two-stage rocket considered the most efficient and cost-effective small payload rocket in the world.

FreeFall Aerospace is developing revolutionary antenna technology for ground, air, and space. Spherical antennas offer a wide field of view, efficient beam steering, and low mass to simplify and improve satellite communications. This allows entire constellations of low-cost satellites to be integrated in a complete communications network. The technology is based on research in high-frequency radio astronomy at The University of Arizona.

This overview is just a sample of what is happening in Arizona. While there are plenty of voids in space, there are far fewer when it comes to our commercial space industry.

Steve Zylstra is president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council.

The post Arizona is becoming a star in commercial space sector appeared first on FreeFall Aerospace.

The post FreeFall Aerospace Uses Ansys HFSS to Design Innovative Antenna System appeared first on FreeFall Aerospace.

The post FreeFall Aerospace at the 36th Space Symposium appeared first on FreeFall Aerospace.

The post TechFocus Podcast featuring Doug Stetson of FreeFall Aerospace appeared first on FreeFall Aerospace.

The post Tucson’s Place in Space with Julie Bonner of FreeFall Aerospace appeared first on FreeFall Aerospace.