Small satellite manufacturer and mission services provider, Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT) has acquired Antenna Development Corporation (AntDevCo), an antenna manufacturer.
As a vertically integrated company, the acquisition plays a key role in BCT incorporating antennas into their design and manufacturing capabilities portfolio. Prior to the acquisition, BCT was a primary customer for AntDevCo, procuring more than 60 antennas, 11 of which are currently on-orbit on 5 different spacecraft. The easily customizable, compact antennas will be designed in-house for use on future small satellite builds.
By bringing the RF communications system model in-house, technical risk is reduced, and capabilities are advanced. The acquisition will aid in the implementation of additional cost-effective practices such as streamlining procurement schedules, provide better-integrated modeling, and offer improvements in communication solutions.
Equipment and test capabilities will also be advanced as part of the acquisition. Stemming from the equipment transfer, BCT will now have a devoted Antenna Test Lab. BCT will gain access to more than 40 years of experience of antenna design, manufacture and tests for antennas used from LEO to Deep Space. Existing orders will be produced, tested and fulfilled in the current New Mexico location. Over a period of six months, all new builds, equipment, and designs will transition to BCT’s Boulder-based facilities. The terms of the sale are not being disclosed.
Blue Canyon’s highly integrated systems have enabled a broad range of missions and technological advances for the New Space economy, further reducing the barriers of space entry. BCT is currently building more than 60 spacecraft for government NASA, Department of Defense, commercial and academic missions. The company has doubled in size over the past 12 months and plans to open its new 80,000-square-foot headquarters and production facility in 2020.
