This is what Raz Itzhaki, CEO of NSLComm, who is launching today a technology demonstration satellite of deployable antennas that will make it possible to provide 1 gigabit per second connectivity to ships and remote areas, says in an interview to the website of the scientist Raz Itzhaki. The company is supported by five venture capital funds, but according to Itzhaki, this is a rare example. The field of venture capital funds still needs strengthening"
Update, the launch was successful.
"The Genesis spacecraft served as a catalyst for the new space industry in Israel." This is what the CEO of NSLComm, CEO of NSLComm, which is launching today from the Vostok Space Center in the Far East of Russia, says in an interview with the website "NSLSat-1, which will be launched this morning (08:45 Israel time) from Russia, will enable high-speed internet communication that is much cheaper than today's satellite internet." Answer our question regarding the scope of the space industry in Israel and we will refer to this later in the article.
"This is a demonstration of technology of deployed antennas that will allow providing gigabit connectivity per second to ships and remote areas, as well as competing with optical fibers and other communication methods in the provision of high-speed Internet services."
"We have a series of customers starting with cruise ships that we can now demonstrate how we provide them with high-speed Internet connection, through cellular operators that we give them an infrastructure of communication connection back from the remote cells to the center of the network and ending with IOT in the field of connected cars, agriculture, and asset tracking All these things are things that we need to show to the customers. IOT for example does not need many satellites because the continuity there is less dramatic and high bandwidth is not necessarily required AB).
"We accomplish this with a nano satellite that deploys a very large antenna in space (a reflector). The antenna it deploys is made of a material called SMP (Shape Memory Polymer). It is a flexible material that remembers its shape, and can be folded into a very small volume. When you open the cell in which it is located, it jumps out like a spring. For this purpose an antenna with a diameter of one meter will weigh about 300 grams and fit into the size of 1U, in the first step we open an antenna of 60 centimeters Weighs less than 150 grams and fits into much less than one nano satellite unit. After deploying the antenna, it behaves like a satellite that is 100 times larger. Additional communications such as sub-reflector, local network (LAN) and more."
Where did you build the satellite and how long did you work on its development?
"We built the communication system in Israel and the satellite itself in Scotland. The development took about three years. We actually built two satellites, one of which was launched today and the other will be a kind of backup in case there is any problem. We board as hitchhikers on a Soyuz launcher. The launch will have 33 satellites, which it will release at altitude of 700, 580 and 520 km. Our satellite will be released at an altitude of 580 km.
What innovation did you bring to the field of communication satellites?
In principle, satellite communication is too expensive today and satellite communication is expensive because satellites are an expensive thing. By deploying the antenna in space, we allow the satellite to be reduced in size by ninety percent, because most of a normal communications satellite is designed to support the antenna during launch, and if the antenna is not deployed during launch, I can give up ninety percent of the structure and save 90 percent of the cost of the structure."
"If the satellite is 10 times smaller, the launch cost per satellite is 10 times smaller and I can put 10 times more satellites in the launcher. This allows us to lower the cost by almost an order of magnitude and this means that the cost of communication can decrease by an order of magnitude. We allow the cost of satellite communication to be lowered to so that it is competitive against fiber optic or microwave communication. Another thing that is unique to us is that our sub-reflector is motorized The ground track to whatever shape you want. For example, we can arrange a track with a diameter of 20 kilometers and provide a high rate of over a gigabit per second, which is about 50 times what a communication satellite can provide today. A second option is not to focus the track and then get a larger coverage area at a lower rate more."
"Each satellite can rotate and direct itself to a certain point and can follow it as long as it is in its line of sight. Each satellite can see a certain point for about ten minutes until it sets. When there is a continuous constellation - another satellite will rise just as the previous one sets and the area will continue to receive coverage."
What is the propulsion system of NSLSat-1?
"The demonstration satellite does not have a propulsion system because there is no need for the constellation to have an ion propulsion system. There are several systems based on xenon, there are even engines that break down water into hydrogen and oxygen and then either burn the gases or use ions to accelerate the oxygen and hydrogen through an electric field and get thrust ."
The new space - the engine of growth
How do you fit into the new space industry in Israel?
"We are trying to do to satellites what Disk On Key did to Disk Plans, we want to make the satellites smaller and more efficient, and in this Israel has always been strong. The first Israeli satellites were the smallest of their kind when they were launched until the world started making such satellites as well. Our goal is to break through and change the paradigm of how to do satellite communication." Itzhaky explains.
"There are a number of startups in the field of space in Israel, and there is extensive activity in satellites and space in most universities in Israel, so there are many signs of germination that will allow us to promote more and more ventures in the next decade. And of course, Berishit is a crazy catalyst for this. The space agency has done and is doing beautiful things that lead to germination and growth in the first startups, which is still needed To develop and strengthen the investments in the field of space that come from funds and other investment bodies, the field has not yet reached mass Critical that causes funds to specialize and it is difficult to carry out a valuation (due diligence) for companies in the space field.
Nevertheless, did funds invest in you?
"JVP, EurCrowd, the El Al Investment Fund and the American Liberty Fund invested in us - a total of five funds. Our specific story goes through the "Journey" - a startup competition held by Ernst & Young, and we won in 2015. JVP provided a mentor for the competition , decided to jump into the pool with Liberty. I have met investment managers of 400 funds to date and I am continuing to meet. Part of my task is not only to present the business model of NSLCOMM but to really introduce them to the field from scratch, so there is an obstacle that does not exist for other entrepreneurs. This is an advantage and a disadvantage because being unique is also good, because it stands out from the others, on the other hand We have enough Diligence."
Who are the people in the startup?
"NSLComm is led by four people - I, who for about a decade managed the department of small satellites in the aerospace industry, have a doctorate in computer science and a bachelor's and master's degree in aeronautics and space. Along with me is Daniel Rochberger, with whom I worked in the aerospace industry, who is an expert in materials and mechanical design of satellites, and holds a degree Shani from the International Space University, Daniel Ben Dov, who is responsible for sales and business development, was head division at both Elbit and Gilat. Yizhar Marinov was also responsible for the development of modems at Gilat.
In conclusion, Itzhaki adds that the company has already sold a complete system that includes a satellite and terminals for a ground station in the amount of several million dollars, and will deliver it within two years in space.
More on this subject on Hayadan.com - Science news
5 תגובות
Daniel Ben Dov was not the head of a division in Elbit!!!
For Shimon, indeed the connection is continuous all the time with the earth but in time segments in front of a certain area on the earth and God forbid returns in a circle.
To Moses
SpaceX, a venture with a huge budget, can send satellites to the height it wants and has money for everything (including sending a Tesla car into space). Here it is a satellite to be used with a dedicated satellite as needed at frequencies higher than usual and with a very low space budget. Rate cost for the best information for nano satellites that weigh less than 7 bags of milk. The innovation is in the antenna that spreads out in space and gives the possibility of communication performance.
very weird! All communication satellites today are placed at a very high altitude and their angular speed is the same as that of the Earth, so that the satellite always remains above a fixed point.
On the other hand, spy satellites and most weather satellites orbit the earth at a lower altitude than communication satellites, and make one lap around the earth every 90-120 minutes.
This means that the satellite in this publication is presented as a so-called miniaturized communication satellite, but in fact it will behave like a spy satellite...
It is not clear how the satellite makes continuous contact, when it is constantly circling the Earth.
The 60 small satellites spaceX has launched, they also probably have small antennas
What is the difference ?