In a significant milestone for the space industry, Northwood Space, a startup founded by former Disney star Bridgit Mendler, has successfully connected its ground station unit with orbiting Planet Labs satellites. The test, which took place at Planet’s ground station in Maddock, North Dakota, demonstrated the capabilities of Northwood’s novel phased-array antenna system to transmit data to and from satellites on orbit.
The Purpose Behind Northwood Space
According to Mendler, the purpose of what they’re doing is to build a more performant ground network that can help industrialize the space industry. "We see connectivity as really a fundamental pillar of expanding space," she said in a recent interview. The growth of the space industry has led to an exponential increase in data transmission between satellites and Earth, creating a bottleneck for satellite operations.
The Bottleneck for Space
Traditionally, large dish antennas have been used to enable communication between satellites and ground stations. However, these services are often limited by availability, leading to long wait times or even outages. Northwood’s solution is to mass-produce digital phased-array systems, called "Portals," which can provide always-on satellite connectivity.
How Northwood’s Technology Works
Unlike traditional parabolic dish antennas, Northwood’s antenna system can connect with multiple satellites simultaneously and electronically steer its beam direction to track objects in space. This capability is made possible by the company’s use of phased-array technology, which allows for mass manufacturing and smaller size compared to traditional ground stations.
Mass Manufacturing and Smaller Size
Northwood’s goal is to manufacture one antenna system per month, making their technology more accessible to satellite operators. The systems are designed to be compact, with a size of six feet by six feet, allowing for deployment at locations where larger antennas are impossible.
Testing and Future Plans
The team was able to set up the ground station and complete testing in just six hours. Northwood aims to have sites operational in the first half of 2025 and scale production rates from there. The company is exploring sites both in the U.S. and internationally, with Mendler stating that they are "looking at various locations around the world."
Funding and Investors
Northwood went public in February and has raised approximately $6 million in funding from investors including Founders Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, and Also Capital.
The Future of Space Connectivity
As the space industry continues to grow, the need for reliable and efficient connectivity solutions becomes increasingly important. Northwood’s innovative phased-array antenna system has the potential to revolutionize the way satellite operators communicate with their spacecraft, enabling faster and more reliable data transmission.
Related Topics:
- Bridgit Mendler: Founder of Northwood Space
- Northwood Space: Startup developing phased-array antenna systems for space connectivity
- Space Industry: Growing demand for efficient connectivity solutions
About the Author:
Aria Alamalhodaei is a reporter covering the space and defense industries at TechCrunch. She has previously written about the public utilities and power grid for California Energy Markets and has had her work published in MIT’s Undark Magazine, The Verge, and Discover Magazine.
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