Overview of the NewTEN Antenna
On August 25, 2026, Tegende unveiled the NewTEN antenna in Salt Lake City. The device is a two‑axis steerable reflector antenna designed specifically for small spacecraft. By allowing adjustment in both azimuth and elevation, it provides a far larger pointing envelope than fixed‑antenna designs.
The antenna features a lightweight reflector driven by two electromechanical actuators. These enable fast and precise pointing, keeping the link to ground stations stable even as the satellite moves along its orbit. According to the manufacturer, this results in higher data rates and lower required transmit power.
At the SmallSat conference where NewTEN made its public debut, industry experts highlighted the need for flexible antenna solutions as the fleet of CubeSats and microsatellites grows. The compact form factor was noted as a key advantage, allowing easy integration into existing payload adapters.
Tegende plans to deliver NewTEN to selected customers in the coming months and to develop additional variants covering different frequency bands. The goal is to contribute to improved global connectivity for space missions.