Oxford Space Systems (OSS) was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Harwell, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. OSS aims to become the global leader in deployable antennas for space, delivering lightweight, cost-effective, and stowage-efficient solutions for satellite-based services. The company focuses on enabling next-generation spaceborne services, such as Earth observation, to address global challenges like weather monitoring, soil erosion, and illegal land use. OSS specializes in deployable antennas and structures for spacecraft, particularly for small satellites. It prioritizes innovative antenna designs and structures to enhance satellite performance, stowage efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
OSS develops advanced deployable antennas and structures using proprietary materials and innovative design techniques, such as origami-inspired engineering. Key technologies include:
- Wrapped Rib Antenna: A 3m-diameter Cassegrain reflector antenna with a metal mesh surface, designed for high-frequency, high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) missions. It stows compactly, making it ideal for small satellites.
- High-Strain Composite Materials: OSS has industrialized in-house knitting and composite processes, ensuring quality control and rapid iteration.
- Metal Mesh Reflector Surfaces: These enable high RF performance with minimal mass and complexity.
OSS and SSTL, supported by the UK Space Agency’s National Space Technology Programme, developed a deployable SAR antenna payload for small satellite missions. This collaboration resulted in the Wrapped Rib antenna integrated with SSTL’s CarbSAR platform. OSS collaborates with QuadSAT to use drone-based RF testing for large antennas.
Key Products and Services
- Deployable Antennas: OSS offers a portfolio of antennas designed for high RF performance, minimal mass, and compact stowage. These are tailored for small satellite missions, including Earth observation and communications.
- Space Structures: OSS develops lightweight, origami-inspired structures to maximize stowage efficiency and reduce costs.
- Custom Antenna Systems: OSS designs, manufactures, and tests antennas from material development to complete systems, meeting mission-specific requirements.
OSS’s antennas enable compact, high-performance solutions for small satellites, reducing launch costs and improving data quality for applications like SAR and Earth observation. The company’s technology supports advanced Earth observation, providing data for climate monitoring, urban planning, and disaster management.
OSS aims to dominate the deployable antenna market, leveraging scalable technologies to meet emerging market needs. The company is evolving its product portfolio to support new satellite services, such as communications and navigation. OSS’s lightweight, efficient designs contribute to sustainable space practices by reducing launch mass and costs.
OSS is a pioneer in the small satellite market, driving innovation in deployable antennas and structures. By challenging traditional space development models, OSS enables cost-effective, high-performance solutions for small satellites, aligning with the UK’s goal to capture 10% of the global space economy by 2030. Its collaborations with SSTL, the UK Space Agency, and the MoD position it as a key player in both commercial and defense space applications.
