Celestia UK adds new measurement capability in active antennas for SatCom

CelestiaUK has successfully completed the installation and commissioning of phase one of its combined near field and far field measurement range.

This is a further milestone for the business since it established its new facilities in Heriot-Watt Research Park in 2020. By and large, it represents a major investment in infrastructure and in recruiting a highly specialised team, challenging the barriers imposed by Brexit and COVID to add a new site in Scotland to the existing facilities at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire.

This newly commissioned Phase 1 installation provides a spherical far field measurement capability to support testing of CelestiaUK's state-of-the-art active phased array antennas and components for satellite communications up to Ka band, currently in development. 

The RF anechoic chamber was supplied by SIEPEL.

Testing of prototype active antennas is due to start next month with the Phase 2 upgrade, expected later this year, enhancing our measurement capability further to include planar and spherical near field measurements and a full compact antenna far-field measurement capability.   

This is a great step forwards for the business in the face of adversity, from which CelestiaUK has emerged more resolute than ever. Now, the business will continue to move ahead with the development of active phased arrays for the SatCom market with the same drive the company has shown throughout the past year.