Full Motion Antennas
The OHB DC full-motion antenna system is a highly dynamic and versatile setup designed for satellite communication. It is engineered to track satellites continuously across the sky, providing an uninterrupted link with satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), and even geostationary orbit (GEO) in certain cases. These systems can pivot in both azimuth (horizontal) and elevation (vertical) to follow satellites precisely as they move, making them essential for applications that require constant connectivity and high data rates.
The OHB DC FMA are available with an additional tils axis that enables a fast track of LEO and MEO satellites. The additional axis allows the antenna system to adjust orientation quickly as the satellite passed over or near the user`s location, maintaining a robust, stable and reliable link.
FMA Key Features:
- Dimension range:
[3.7m...9.3m]
- Frequency bands:
[S, X, Ku, Ka]
- Feed system:
[mono-band, dual-band, tri-band]
Key Applications
Earth Observation and Remote Sensing
Full-motion antennas are crucial for tracking fast-moving LEO and MEO satellites, which are frequently used for earth observation, environmental monitoring, and remote sensing applications.
Government agencies, environmental organizations, and research institutions use these antennas to receive high-resolution images, meteorological data, and other observational data in real-time, aiding in areas like climate research, disaster response, and land management.
Satellite Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&C)
Full-motion antennas are essential for the telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) operations that keep satellites in stable orbits and monitor their health.
They allow satellite operators to send commands to adjust satellite orientation, gather telemetry data on satellite status, and maintain reliable control over satellite operations, which is especially important for non-GEO satellites that require ongoing monitoring.
Data Transmission and High-Bandwidth Communications
Full-motion antennas are often used to communicate with high-throughput satellites (HTS), providing continuous connectivity for applications requiring substantial bandwidth, such as internet backhaul, video broadcasting, and global communications.
In the case of satellite constellations (e.g., Starlink or OneWeb) in LEO, full-motion antennas enable seamless handover from one satellite to another, ensuring constant data flow and minimizing latency.
Mobile Connectivity in Dynamic Environments
Full-motion antennas are invaluable in mobile scenarios such as ships, aircraft, and remote vehicles that require real-time satellite communication while in motion.
For maritime and aviation, these antennas provide reliable internet, voice, and navigation services, adapting to both the movement of the vehicle and the satellite. This is especially crucial for applications like maritime navigation, air traffic management, and offshore oil and gas operations.
Military and Defense Communications
Military operations use full-motion antennas for secure satellite communications, enabling tactical communication, reconnaissance, and surveillance.
These systems support multiple satellite orbits and frequency bands, providing flexibility for encrypted, low-latency communication that is crucial for command-and-control, battlefield awareness, and intelligence sharing in diverse operational theaters.
Benefits
- Uninterrupted Connectivity: Provides continuous tracking of moving satellites, which is essential for high-bandwidth applications and real-time data transmission.
- Flexibility Across Orbits: Can track satellites in various orbits (LEO, MEO, GEO, and beyond), making it versatile for a range of satellite communication requirements.
- High Reliability and Low Latency: Supports real-time communication with minimal delays, especially critical for mission-critical applications in defense, aviation, and emergency response.
- High Data Capacity: Suitable for high-throughput data applications, essential for broadband internet, HDTV broadcasting, and large-scale data collection.