A UK-built device capable of home broadband speeds, which will enable astronauts to communicate with loved ones and experts on Earth, has reached its destination the International Space Station (ISS).
The Columbus Ka-band Terminal (COLKa), a communications antenna, arrived on a Cygnus supply ship shortly after 9am on February 18. It is the UK’s first contribution to the ISS, which has housed international astronauts since 2000.
According to the UK Space Agency, the upgrade will ensure faster communications that are independent from the Nasa system already installed onboard the space station.
The contract for designing and building the fridge-sized device was awarded to MDA Space and Robotics Limited, a global communications and information company based in Harwell, Oxfordshire.
“The COLKa programme has firmly established MDA in the UK as a leading provider of high-quality space equipment, positioning us for continued business growth and new jobs in both communications and space sensor markets,” said David Kenyon, managing director at MDA UK.
Source:
https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2020/02/astronauts-internet-speeds-boosted-as-iss-receives-new-uk-built-antenna/
