NASA Researching ‘Ultra-Lightweight” Antennae for Future Aircraft

Space agency has tested rigid and ground-based versions of a state-of-the-art antenna and aims to field an aerogel-based variant later this year.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 05:05 PM ET

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Jack Daleo

Researchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center use a flat aerogel array antenna to beam signals to a satellite in geostationary Earth orbit. [Courtesy: NASA/Jordan Cochran]

Key Takeaways:

NASA is developing an "active phased array aerogel antenna" to prevent communication losses in drones, eVTOL air taxis, and other future aircraft.
This ultra-lightweight, flexible antenna can be embedded under an aircraft's skin, using electronically steered radio waves for reliable communication rather than traditional satellite relays.
The antenna is made from an aerogel, a highly porous and strong material with 95 percent air content, and has demonstrated the ability to connect with both geostationary and low-Earth orbit satellites.
The innovation aims to significantly improve the safety of autonomous air operations, especially in urban areas, by ensuring critical communication links are maintained.

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Engineers at NASA are developing a solution to address the potential for “dropped calls” in drones, self-flying electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis, and other future aircraft.

The space agency on Tuesday said that by the end of the year, researchers aim to design, build, and test what it describes as an “active phased array aerogel antenna” that can be embedded under an aircraft’s skin. The idea is to address communication delays and losses in aircraft, which typically communicate with ground stations using signals transmitted via satellite relay.