Derrick Henry
Rocket Lab USA has unveiled the Frontier radios, a collection of radio frequency communications systems for reliable telemetry, tracking and command.
The radios support any orbit or space environment and feature advanced capabilities, such as ranging waveforms for radiometric navigation, Rocket Lab said Thursday. The software-defined radios’ compact and lightweight build enables easy integration into any satellite.
High-Performance RF Systems
The Frontier radios underscore the organization’s ability to deliver “high-performance products at constellation scale,” according to Brad Clevenger, vice president of space systems at Rocket Labs. “While much of the industry struggles with supply chain challenges, Rocket Lab continues to demonstrate that it is the right partner for merchant component supply to the most demanding missions,” he added.
The space-grade RF product suite is available in L-, S-, C-, X- and Ka-band models. It is part of Rocket Lab’s portfolio of products that includes reaction wheels, star trackers, solar power systems, flight software, ground software and separation systems. The radios are flight-proven across a range of missions and compatible with the Deep Space Network and other international ground stations, such as the Near Earth Network, Air Force Satellite Control Network, KSAT, SSC and Viasat.
