L to Ka
Full spectrum coverage from a single aperture
Space Air Technologies has developed a patented multi-band antenna that operates across the full L to Ka spectrum from a single aperture, allowing one spacecraft to do the work of several. The result is lower mass, lower cost, and greater flexibility across every orbit.
Space Air Technologies was founded on a simple observation. Today a mission that needs several frequency bands needs several antenna systems, and often several satellites, which multiplies mass, cost, and complexity. We have built the alternative. Our patented thin-membrane antenna operates across the L, S, X, Ku, and Ka bands at the same time, from one deployable surface, so a single platform can serve missions that used to require many.
Based in Helsinki and founded in 2026, we work with industry partners across Europe. Our technology is protected by two European patent families covering both the antenna architecture and its deployment mechanism.
Our thin-membrane platform changes how a satellite antenna is built, deployed, and operated. Four properties define it.
A single deployable surface operates across the L, S, X, Ku, and Ka bands at the same time, removing the need for a separate antenna system for each frequency. This is the core of the platform and the basis of its cost and mass advantage.
The membrane structure reduces antenna mass by up to ninety percent against rigid reflectors, folds flat for launch, and deploys passively in orbit with near-zero standby power, which lowers complexity, power draw, and the number of ways a deployment can fail.
A passive tensioning mechanism holds surface accuracy at Ku and Ka band frequencies without active control, which is the engineering result that makes single-aperture multi-band operation possible rather than merely desirable.
The platform is native to 3GPP non-terrestrial network standards and is designed to integrate with terrestrial 5G and 6G infrastructure. Its software-defined radio lets operators reassign bands and coverage in orbit as demand changes.
The same antenna platform addresses the three principal satellite communications markets, in each case by replacing several single-band assets with one.
A single platform can carry the capability of several dedicated geostationary payloads, serving broadcast, sovereign and defence missions, and enterprise broadband from one spacecraft.
A compact multi-band constellation reaches global connectivity and navigation coverage with far fewer satellites than conventional single-band designs, which improves the economics at every scale.
A lightweight platform lets mobile network operators extend coverage to standard handsets, supporting direct-to-device and machine connectivity at a fraction of the cost of competing systems.
Our progress is built on external recognition and verified engineering rather than internal assertion.
Selected by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme with a prize of one hundred thousand euros. The award will be presented at the CASSINI Entrepreneurship Days in Prague, 30 September to 1 October 2026.
The architecture and its deployment mechanism are protected by two European patent families, creating strong barriers to replication.
Supported by validated electromagnetic modelling, prototype testing, and radio-frequency measurement of multi-band performance.
We are in active pilot and engagement discussions across satellite, airborne, and defence applications, moving from validated technology toward an in-orbit demonstration.
Doctorate in space economy and a retired Air Force Colonel, with more than thirty years in defence and aerospace and senior stakeholder experience at European level. Leads strategy and partnerships.
Inventor of the patented thin-membrane antenna, with a doctorate in small-satellite systems and deep expertise in radio-frequency and multi-band satellite communications. Leads the technology and the intellectual property.
More than ten years across satellite operations, space-programme leadership, and commercialisation, with a background that includes Airbus Defence and Space, ICEYE, and Satellogic, and experience leading satellite missions from design to launch.
Experienced board member and investor with a track record of scaling technology companies and supporting international growth.
The market need is structural. Roughly thirty-seven thousand satellites are planned this decade, and every mission that needs multiple frequency bands currently pays for that capability in additional antennas, mass, and cost. A single conventional multi-band constellation can cost on the order of nine hundred million euros, where our approach targets around two hundred million, a saving of about seven hundred million euros per deployment. The addressable antenna-subsystem market exceeds thirty billion euros through 2035.
The European Union Agency for the Space Programme has selected Space Air Technologies as a winner of its CASSINI Challenges 2026, recognising the company's patented multi-band antenna platform with a prize of one hundred thousand euros. The award will be presented at the CASSINI Entrepreneurship Days in Prague, 30 September to 1 October 2026.
The recognition follows a competitive evaluation against the programme's criteria of innovation, market potential, relevance to the European space programme, and impact. Space Air Technologies was selected for its patented thin-membrane antenna, which operates across the L, S, X, Ku, and Ka bands at the same time from a single deployable surface. By replacing several conventional antenna systems with one, the platform reduces satellite mass and cost and allows a single spacecraft to serve missions that previously required several.
The company's technology is directly relevant to European objectives for sovereign and secure connectivity, including the GOVSATCOM and IRIS2 programmes, where lighter and more capable platforms improve the economics of European space infrastructure.
"This award is an independent confirmation from the European Union that the problem we are solving matters and that our approach is credible. It strengthens our path from validated technology toward an in-orbit demonstration," said Mikko Punnala, Chief Executive Officer of Space Air Technologies.
Space Air Technologies is based in Helsinki. Its multi-band antenna platform stands at Technology Readiness Level 6 and is protected by two European patent families. The company is raising a funding round to support flight qualification and an in-orbit demonstration.
Whether you are an investor, a satellite or mobile network operator, a defence integrator, or a potential partner, we would like to hear from you.