Northwood Blog

Northwood Demonstrates Operational Capability of Highest Power Commercial Communications Phased Array

Northwood, the CA-based startup building a ground network that provides dynamic and resilient connectivity at scale for space operators, just hit a new technical milestone ahead of its first deployment later this year. 

Northwood announces today that it has tested its first production-ready phased array antenna system, Portal. Designed for supporting satellites in low earth orbit (LEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), and geostationary orbit (GEO), Portal has demonstrated that it can deliver 1 kilowatt (1kW) of transmit power and receive sub-picowatt signals within the same face. These faces can be arrayed in modular configurations to support higher power levels such as 6- or 8-array configurations supporting 6- or 8-kW power to GEO at site.

Northwood’s emphasis on rapid and scalable production has informed the design of this system. Portal sites are changing the game on time from production to delivery of operational high power phased array units. This system was integrated at Northwood’s manufacturing facility in just 5 days. Portal production sites are designed to be manufactured, installed, and operational in a matter of weeks.

Northwood plans for customers to be able to leverage the Portal system to maneuver in and between orbits. As a phased array system, Portal can support this dynamic activity not just for one satellite, but for many. This is particularly important given the exponential growth in satellites in space that is overwhelming existing ground networks.

“Portal is an exciting proof point for how Northwood can introduce critical capabilities to our ground network at a fraction of the cost and schedule of traditional standards,” said Bridgit Mendler, CEO of Northwood. "This means that systems aren’t just deployed to the network rapidly the first time, but they can also be quickly replaced and reconfigured, so customers can stay connected and scale their operations as needed.” 

Operating at over 20x higher EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power), this new phased array iteration represents a generational leap forward from Northwood’s first prototype, Frankie, which made successful contact with a Planet Labs satellite just 9 months ago. This milestone makes the Portal system the most powerful commercial communications phased array ever built.

Northwood operates out of a 35,000 sq ft facility in Torrance, California, designed to produce 16 portal arrays per month in addition to other product lines. With multiple sites already underway, Northwood plans for global deployment beginning in Q4 2025.