The Netherlands’ latest space firm brought its newest design for testing in ESA’s largest antenna test facility. The Hiber company has already launched its first two nanosatellites into orbit, and is busily preparing its next generation.

Dutch space company Hiber is building an orbital constellation of CubeSats – small modular satellites based around 10 cm units – to provide global low-cost connectivity for the ‘Internet of Things’, tracking and harnessing data from modem-linked objects such as haulage vehicles, power cables, pipelines or sensors for precision agriculture.

Evaluation of a test nanosatellite took place in ESA’s metal-walled Hybrid European Radio Frequency and Antenna Test Zone (Hertz) at the Agency’s technical centre in the Netherlands, shut off from all external influences for radio testing.

Hertz’s hybrid nature makes it unique: the facility can assess radio signals from antennas either on a local ‘near-field’ basis or as if the signal has crossed thousands of kilometres of space, allowing it to serve all kinds of satellites and antenna systems.

Hiber’s initial development was supported through ESA’s Business Incubation Centre Noordwijk. The company went on to launch its first two CubeSats last year. Its test campaign in ESA’s Hertz chamber was organised through the Netherlands Space Office.

“The fact that we’re able to test out satellites in a chamber such as this, just half an hour from our base, is extremely valuable,” says Maarten Engelen, Hiber’s Chief Technology Officer.

“The results from the very thorough antenna testing has helped guide the check-out of our satellites in orbit, and feeding through to our follow-on designs. Our CubeSats possess a one-year lifetime, so this next generation will be headed to orbit next year.”