CarbSAR Antenna Successfully Deployed

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 The CarbSAR In-Orbit Demonstration mission has reached a major milestone, with the successful in-orbit deployment of Oxford Space Systems' Wrapped Rib Antenna - the first large deployable reflector from Oxford Space Systems to fly and deploy in space.

Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on 11th January 2026, CarbSAR has been a fast-moving and highly focused mission from day one. Like all new satellites, the priority following launch was to bring the spacecraft safely under control and into a stable, predictable operating state.



For the SSTL team (pictured above during launch), that meant an intense first week of spacecraft commissioning, led by our Chiefs and AOCS specialists, working around the clock to stabilise the satellite, characterise its behaviour in orbit, and ensure all systems were performing exactly as expected. It's a phase of the mission that rarely gets much public attention.. but it's critical groundwork for everything that follows.

With the platform stabilised and performing well, attention then turned to the real headline act of the CarbSAR demo mission: the deployment of the Oxford Space Systems (OSS) antenna. And onboard camera technology, activated before the antenna deployment in pic below, would be able to capture the deployment as it happened.



The successful deployment marks a major moment for both Oxford Space Systems and the wider UK space sector, providing valuable flight heritage for OSS's innovative Wrapped Rib Antenna architecture.

Following completion of the initial commissioning phase, the team executed the antenna deployment sequence in orbit - a carefully choreographed operation that validated years of engineering design, analysis, manufacturing and ground-based testing.

The Wrapped Rib Antenna was designed, manufactured and assembled at Oxford Space Systems' facilities in Oxfordshire, which include composite and metal mesh production capabilities, as well as clean room facilities for assembly, integration and testing.

The antenna enables high-performance X-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capability from a compact, stowage-efficient configuration - a key enabler for advanced Earth observation missions on small satellite platforms. (Antenna pictured below in test prior to launch.)



One of the most impressive aspects of the design is its dual-stage deployment:

• First, the metal mesh primary reflector surface is deployed
• Then, the secondary reflector mast is deployed to the focal point of the reflector

It is this two-stage approach that enables the Wrapped Rib Antenna's extremely efficient stowed volume, while still delivering a large, high-performance reflector once deployed in orbit.

And yes - we have video of this deployment, which you can watch to see the mechanism in action as the antenna unfurls in space.

For Oxford Space Systems, this represents the first in-orbit deployment of their Wrapped Rib Antenna and a major technical milestone for the company.

Pete Ashworth, Chief Technology Officer at Oxford Space Systems, commented:
"The successful deployment of the Wrapped Rib Antenna in orbit is a major technical milestone for Oxford Space Systems. It validates our engineering approach and demonstrates our ability to develop and industrialise advanced deployable antenna technologies in the UK. This achievement builds valuable flight heritage, reinforces our confidence as we move towards future missions and production at scale, and reflects the expertise of our engineering and manufacturing teams and the strength of our collaboration with mission partners."

The in-orbit data and performance feedback from CarbSAR will now feed directly into Oxford Space Systems' ongoing and future programmes, supporting customers in the UK and internationally, and underpinning the continued industrialisation of antenna production at scale.

For SSTL, CarbSAR is a clear demonstration of what can be achieved when innovative payload technology is paired with compact, high-performance satellite platforms.

Andrew Cawthorne, Managing Director at SSTL, said:
"The successful deployment of the Wrapped Rib Antenna is the key milestone for the CarbSAR mission and a clear demonstration of the performance that can be achieved from compact satellite platforms. We're proud to have partnered with Oxford Space Systems to flight-qualify this innovative technology and look forward to building on this heritage for future SAR and Earth observation missions."

From a mission perspective, CarbSAR has delivered exactly what an in-orbit demonstration is designed to do: move from careful stabilisation and commissioning, through to the successful execution of a technically demanding payload deployment - and generate valuable heritage that reduces risk for future operational missions.

Behind the scenes, it has also showcased the depth of expertise within both teams: from the AOCS specialists and mission operators who brought the spacecraft into a stable operating state, to the payload and systems engineers who executed the antenna deployment with precision.

With the antenna now successfully deployed and operational, CarbSAR moves into its next phase - gathering data, building heritage, and laying the groundwork for future SAR and Earth observation missions that will benefit from this proven, flight-qualified technology.