Utah team integrates transparent antenna with CubeSat solar panel

(SpaceEnergy) Utah State University researchers have developed an optically transparent antenna intended to share spacecraft surface area with a CubeSat solar panel without blocking power generation.

The Get Away Special Radio and Antenna Transparency Satellite is a 2U technology demonstration CubeSat designed to test a meshed patch antenna integrated directly with a solar panel.

The researchers said the architecture allows the same limited external spacecraft area to support both communications and electrical power generation, addressing competing demands for surface area on small satellites.

The technology is scheduled for demonstration on the spacecraft, providing an in-space test of whether an optically transparent antenna can operate while preserving the underlying solar panel’s power-generating function.

The work was published through the Small Satellite Conference repository and became available for download on 22 August. It was listed for presentation in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 24 August.