This is what Raz Itzhaki, CEO of NSLComm says in an interview with the scientist website, which is today launching a technology demonstration satellite of deployable antennas that will make it possible to provide XNUMX gigabit per second connectivity to ships and remote areas * 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 scientist Raz Itzhaki, 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." Itzhaki answered our question regarding the scope of the space industry in Israel and we will refer to this later in the article.
"This is a technology demonstration of deployed antennas that will allow to provide gigabit connectivity per second to ships and remote areas, as well as to compete 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 we need to show to customers. With the same satellite we will be able to demonstrate all these parameters, when we have a constellation in space we will be able to provide a continuous service to those who need it (for IOT, for example, you don't need many satellites because the continuity there is less dramatic and high bandwidth is not necessarily required).
"We accomplish this by means of a nano-satellite that deploys a very large antenna in space (reflector). The antenna he 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 where it is, it jumps out like a spring. For that matter, 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 are developing a 60 centimeter antenna that weighs less than 150 grams and fits into much less than one nano-satellite unit. After he deploys the antenna, he behaves like a satellite that is 100 times larger. The satellite itself is made up of six units (6U), in one of the units the antenna is folded and in the other units we have the satellite's main computer and other communication systems such as a sub-reflector, a 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 he will release at altitudes 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 communication 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 make it possible to lower the cost of satellite communication to such an extent that it is competitive with fiber optic or microwave communication. Another issue that is unique to us is that our sub-reflector is motorized. It contains ten motors that can direct the ground footprint to any desired shape. For example, we can organize a footprint 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 trace and then get a larger coverage area at a lower rate."
"Each satellite can rotate and direct itself to a certain point and can track it as long as it is in its line of sight. Each satellite can see a certain point for about ten minutes until it sinks. When there will be a continuous constellation - another satellite will rise just as the previous one will set 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 an impulse."
The new space - the engine of growth
How do you fit into the new space industry in Israel?
"We are trying to do to the satellites what Disk On Key did to the 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 launched until the world started making such satellites as well. Our goal is to break through and change the paradigm of how satellite communication is done." 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 more and more projects to be promoted in the coming decade. And of course, in the beginning she is a crazy catalyst for that. The space agency has done and is doing beautiful things that lead to germination and growth in the first startups, what still needs to be developed and strengthened is the investments in the space field that come from funds and other investment bodies. The field has not yet reached a critical mass that causes funds to specialize and it is difficult to perform a valuation (due diligence) for companies in the space field. "
Nevertheless, did funds invest in you?
"JVP, Aorcrowd, 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, who provided the competition with a mentor, decided to jump into the pool with Liberty. To date I have met investment managers of 400 funds and I continue 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 here that does not exist for other entrepreneurs. It's an advantage and a disadvantage because being unique is also good, because it stands out above the others, on the other hand, it's hard to do due diligence on us."
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. Together with me, Daniel Ruchberger, with whom I worked at the aerospace industry, is an expert in materials and mechanical design of satellites, and has a master's degree from the International Space University. Likewise, Daniel Ben Dov, who is responsible for sales and business development, was a division head at both Elbit and Gilat. Yizhar Marinov VPRND and he was also responsible at Gilat for the development of modems. Our team consists of twenty people, very limited, but people with a lot of abilities in the field of antennas, satellite communications, modems and space."
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 the subject on the science website
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 ?