Northwood Space Achieves Milestone in Satellite Connectivity
Northwood Space, the aerospace startup founded by former Disney star Bridgit Mendler, has successfully demonstrated its innovative phased-array antenna system by establishing a bidirectional connection with Planet Labs satellites. This critical test marks a significant step forward in solving terrestrial infrastructure challenges for space communications.
The Groundbreaking Test
During the demonstration at Planet’s ground station in Maddock, North Dakota, Northwood’s technology:
- Established reliable telemetry and tasking connections
- Maintained bidirectional links across five satellite passes
- Completed setup and testing in just six hours
The successful test validates Northwood’s approach to revolutionizing ground station technology for the New Space era.
Solving Space’s Connectivity Bottleneck
“We’re building a more performant ground network to help industrialize the space industry,” Mendler explained. “Connectivity is fundamental to expanding space capabilities.”
Northwood aims to address what it identifies as the critical bottleneck in space operations - the terrestrial infrastructure enabling satellite-Earth communications. Traditional ground stations rely on large dish antennas that:
- Require physical pointing at satellites
- Have limited availability
- Struggle to handle growing data volumes
The Northwood Advantage
The company’s “Portal” system offers several technological advantages:
Phased-Array Technology:
- Electronically steered beams (no mechanical movement)
- Simultaneous connections with multiple satellites
- Compact 6x6 foot form factor
Manufacturing Innovation:
- Designed for mass production
- Initial target of one system per month
- Scalable deployment to challenging locations
The Road Ahead
Northwood plans to:
- Have operational sites by first half of 2025
- Expand production capacity
- Explore domestic and international locations
The company, which went public in February 2024, has raised $6 million from notable investors including Founders Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, and Also Capital.
This successful test positions Northwood as a potential game-changer in satellite ground infrastructure, offering a scalable solution to meet the growing demands of the rapidly expanding space industry.
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