In a remarkable stride towards advanced satellite communication, Northwood Space, a nascent venture helmed by the former television star and singer Bridgit Mendler, has recently completed a significant developmental milestone. The startup successfully established a connection with Planet Labs’ imagery satellites, marking an important achievement in its mission to rejuvenate the ground infrastructure that underpins satellite operations. Located in El Segundo, California, Northwood’s innovative approach focuses on leveraging phased array technology to build a next-generation network that promises to redefine the standards of ground connectivity.
Ground stations, often overlooked, serve as the critical nexus for data transfer between Earth and space. Mendler emphasizes the importance of these stations, particularly their role in satellite control and operation. Unlike traditional methods that utilize parabolic dish antennas, Northwood is developing a novel system called Portal, which has the potential to connect with up to ten satellites concurrently. This advancement presents a stark contrast to current technologies, which typically manage only one to three connections at a time.
The emerging market for Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS) sees companies vying for dominance in managing terrestrial space infrastructure. Major players, including Amazon with its AWS Ground Station, have already made significant investments in this sector. However, Northwood’s ambition extends beyond simply participating in the GSaaS space; Mendler envisions a paradigm shift. She criticizes existing connectivity solutions as dated, pointing to costly blackouts and inefficient networks as major pain points.
Drawing parallels from the cellular industry, where shared assets have led to the rise of tower companies, Mendler implicates a similar evolution for ground station operations. She argues that Northwood’s innovative infrastructure model will enhance operational efficiencies and foster sustainable growth within the satellite communication landscape. By positioning ground stations as “the third leg of the stool” alongside rockets and orbiting satellites, the startup seeks to integrate itself into the very fabric of space technology.
Northwood recently took its game-changing prototype, an antenna affectionately named “Frankie,” to remote Maddock, North Dakota, for a crucial telemetry, tracking, and control (TT&C) test. Here, the team succeeded in establishing bi-directional communications with one of Planet’s satellites, impressively covering both S-band and X-band frequencies. This success not only validates Northwood’s technological promises but also demonstrates their capability to operate seamlessly in the practical environment of satellite communication.
Mendler remarked on the team’s rapid development timeline, stating that Frankie was conceptualized, constructed, and deployed within a mere four months. The agility demonstrated in transitioning from the drawing board to live field testing in just six hours showcases Northwood’s efficient operational mantra. Recognizing the accomplishment, Joseph Breu from Planet praised Northwood’s approach, noting that their achievements resolve historical challenges pertaining to scalability and cost-effectiveness.
With two antenna designs under the Portal umbrella—a sizeable S-band antenna and a compact X-band variant—Northwood is poised to roll out several Portal ground stations capable of supporting up to ten simultaneous connections at data rates exceeding 1 gigabit per second. The company is currently scouting locations in the U.S., Europe, Australia, and New Zealand to establish its first operational sites beginning next year.
Mendler expressed enthusiasm as she reflected on the test outcome, confirming that the team met all performance objectives. She acknowledged Planet’s integral role in the test’s success, hinting at the collaborative nature of future endeavors within the sector.
As Northwood Space continues to carve its niche in the satellite connectivity arena, the industry is watching with keen interest. The startup embodies an innovative spirit that could drastically reshape how ground stations function, potentially reducing costs and enhancing efficiency across the board. With a firm foundation laid, the trajectory appears promising for Mendler and her team, who are determined to usher in a new era of space technology connectivity. As Mendler aptly stated, “It just unlocks a lot of things about the next chapter,” indicating that Northwood is just beginning to unlock its vast potential.
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