Kapta Space Corp. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: HR0011SB20234-03

Description

In the EO (Earth Observation) market, both DoD and commercial customers are increasingly sensitive to “quality of product” (an image) and receiving that image or data in near real-time. Spaceborne SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) is a discipline within radar that can be used to create high-resolution 3-D images of landscapes, ships, moving vehicle, walkers, aircraft, etc. Unlike an optical sensor, spaceborne SAR can be a persistent, all-weather active sensor that natively measures distance, detects surface changes and can sense and track movement on any location on earth.  For a LEO application like SAR, the cSWAP (Cost/Size/Weight/Power) characteristics of the antenna dominate the cost of these instruments and commonly prevent them from proliferation into a constellation and achieving 24/7 persistence. Kapta plans on developing the next generation of spaceborne SAR imaging and MTI (Moving Target Indication) sensor technology that will completely change the way SAR sensors are deployed and used in high-resolution earth observation. Our cost-efficient solution is underpinned by an innovative modular beamsteering Metasurface antenna. Kapta’s solution can be scaled economically to support proliferation and large-aperture constellations that enhance access, response time, and swath as compared to similarly performing technology at a small fraction of the cost.  In addition to providing SAR imagery and change-detection capabilities valuable to commercial customers, a low-cost fully steerable, “multi-beam” SAR instrument, like the one Kapta is proposing, would allow the DoD and the Intelligence community to comply with elusive spaceborne Tactical ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) requirements. Currently, a lack of beamsteering and multi-beam features represents a weakness in existing conventional deployed systems. In addition to lack of MTI, it limits global coverage and ultimately the statistical relevance of the long-term data that is measured. Moreover, there is mounting interest in platforms that are increasingly of the smallSat variety where cSWAP considerations are paramount. Kapta’s planned X-Band metasurface aperture seeks to leverage cost-effective, design approaches such as mature PCB (Printed Circuit Board) fabrication techniques and COTS lumped element antenna components which all have space pedigree.  As such, we will also develop robust manufacturing build processes that will result in high-yield, LEO-compliant hardware. The sub-tiles designed and tested for this D2P2 effort will be the core building blocks of our solution and is a key risk mitigator in allowing us to develop the next generation of space-based (LEO) SAR imaging and MTI/Tactical ISR technology. A significant advantage of the metasurface approach is its modular and scalable design and these will allow us to scale these for any application. ???????