De-risk assessment: Helix Antenna

OSS and ESA have identified a need for a European produced deployable helical antenna suitable to meet the needs of the cubesat and microsat markets. GSTP aim was to develop a nominal design which would address the most commonly required frequency range 866MHz and 915MHz centre values GSTP then aimed to develop a second, lower frequency design, centred around 400MHz. It allowed OSS to understand the scalability of the basic helical design solution and its ability to stow in the restricted stowage envelopes available in small spacecraft.

GSTP project has increased OSS’ capabilities in the development and production of deployable helical antennas for MicroSats and NanoSats that are: - Highly Stowage Efficient - High Gain - Low lead time - Cost Effective Indeed, manufacturing and test process and supply chain improvement have occurred throughout the lifecycle of the project. Overall the GSTP project was a success it allowed OSS to continue the industrialisation of helical antennas. There has been a consolidation of suppliers. The Manufacturing and test procedures are in a good state and will smooth out the build of futures antennas.