On 25 August 2022, Oxford Space Systems signed a contract with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) to deliver a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) antenna for the Space Norway MicroSAR satellite system. The contract includes the manufacture of an antenna to support the launch of the first satellite in early 2025. The Space Norway mission is optimised to provide maritime surveillance in Norwegian region in support of the Norwegian Armed Forces and will also deliver maritime surveillance service for the global market.
The MicroSAR payloads will be developed and built by Norwegian suppliers, while the satellite bus will be provided by SSTL. Oxford Space Systems will manufacture the deployable radar antenna in its facility in Harwell, United Kingdom.
The Oxford Space Systems deployable offset reflector antenna delivers high performance from a small stowed volume and lower mass, enabling itsintegration on smaller platforms. This innovative antenna architecture integrated on an efficient SSTL satellite bus enables a step change in SAR capability with the ability to detect relatively small vessels in a very large area. Space Norway aims to establish a constellation of radar satellites in the following yearsto provide a global maritime surveillance service.
Sean Sutcliffe, CEO of Oxford Space Systems, said: “We are delighted to be awarded this critical project which follows a number of years of close collaboration with Space Norway and SSTL. This flight contract is a key milestone for the company’s growth strategy and represents another achievement for one of our key products which will be a game-changer for future Smallsat radar missions.”