HCT – Helical Communication Technologies

Helical Communication Technologies was formed to serve the increasing need for specialized antennas for use with ground-based and space-based communication with satellites placed in low earth orbit and deep space. Located on Florida’s Space Coast, HCT draws on seasoned talent in radio frequency and aerospace engineering which previously participated in NASA’s manned space missions. This allows HCT to hold capabilities in the following areas.

-Phased and Beam Steered Array Antennas

-Space-based Deployable Quadrifilar Helical Antennas

-Turnstile antenna for small and medium satellites

-Ground station antenna design and fabrication

-IoT and Wifi antenna product design and fabrication

-Memory shape alloy deployment mechanisms within antenna structures

 

In 2017, HCT was awarded a U.S patent for the deployable Quadrifilar Helical Antenna which has been used to design numerous variations for domestic and international clients. In December of 2018, HCT achieved flight heritage on its Deployable QHA design and has added two additional missions to its heritage since that time. Through numerous iterations built and repeated use of memory shape alloys into antenna design, the engineering team at HCT has become one of the leaders in the use of nitinol wire and other memory shape alloys. Many of the designs HCT has utilized have been for QHA antennas but have included turnstile antennas, phased array systems, and helical antennas. Helical Communication Technologies is uniquely capable in the frequency ranges of UHF and VHF but possesses the capacity to design and build higher frequency systems. Each antenna design has led to the use of testing for all environmental factors such as vibration, thermal, and vacuum chamber testing which HCT now offers as an add on service to any product. As well as high volume manufacturing production in ISO/ITAR facilities for any constellation programs.

To date, HCT has launched three QHA deployable antennas into Low Earth Orbit but is not limited to space qualified turnstile antennas, phased array systems, and helical antennas. In December of 2018 HCT achieved its first flight heritage on a Deployable QHA design launched out of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India. Since that time HCT has launched aboard two more additional missions launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center aboard international small satellite missions.

The missions being based out of the United Kingdom, Israel, and the Netherlands all have constellation possible futures. All three missions were held in a frequency range of 350MHz-3GHz in both a transmit and receive capability and have exceeded their mission requirements in the IoT and space-to-ground communications segment. HCT products have been repeatedly chosen aboard Low Earth Orbit missions due to the capability of placing a larger communications footprint on the earth.

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