Los Angeles, Calif., March 10, 2026--As part of its move towards service provision and end-to-end connectivity, Orbital Connect has developed a ready-to-operate ground segment solution for LEO earth observation. LEO satellites have the advantage of low latency and high bandwidth, however, they also have the disadvantage of moving rapidly, relative to any fixed point on earth, passing over in only six to twelve minutes. This means that in order to maximize their potential, a robust ground segment is essential. Reliability is not optional, it directly determines how much data can be captured during each satellite pass and whether critical imagery can be preserved.
Utilizing their knowledge and close relationships with equipment suppliers, the team at Orbital Connect have created a solution tailored to the needs of the earth observation industry. Working closely with Cobham and Work Microwave, Orbital Connect has created a fully integrated ground station solution for LEO earth observation.
The system covers the entire operational chain including:
- LEO auto-tracking antenna system
- Customer specific RF subsystems (BUC and LNB)
- Satellite Modem
- Processing and data handling software.
- The Cobham TRACKER 3700 and 6000 series antennas are at the core of the solution. These systems feature:
- Integrated auto-tracking
- Precision three-axis closed loop stabilized pedestals
- 3.7 or 6 meter composite prime focus reflectors
- High G/T performance and large aperture, so enabling reception at weak signal strength and low elevation angles
- Radome for protection in harsh environments
- Hybrid X/S band fees
Unlike traditional X/Y tracking antennas that require deep foundations, and can take months to build, these inertial balanced antennas from Cobham require only minimal civil engineering work for the foundation and cabling infrastructure, so can be operational in days. The TRACKER antennas are compatible with multiple spacecraft standards and constellations and are recognized for quality and long-term reliability.
The AX-62 ground modem from Work Microwave acts as the central interface between the antenna system and the mission data chain. It supports CCSDS and DVB-S2/S2X waveforms within a single software defined multi-mission platform. This flexibility enables:
- Telemetry downlink and telecommand uplink across a wide symbol range
- Support for nanosat, CubeSat and high throughput earth observation payloads.
- Integration of new satellites or constellations without any hardware replacement
- A scalable, multi-mission ground segment suitable for both dedicated systems and shared commercial ground systems.
With this reliable, ready-to-use system, Orbital Connect can support a broad range of LEO applications including: environmental monitoring, disaster assessment, border monitoring and infrastructure inspection. Commercial users can leverage the data for insurance modeling, supply chain visibility, urban growth tracking etc..
For the user, this system enables automated operations with minimal user intervention.
For more information on Orbital Connect and its products and services go to: www.orbitalconnect.com
