The satellite communications ground station sits on the roof of Smith Hall at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. The main feature inside the radome is a 3-meter diameter parabolic dish antenna and communications components that ensure proper signals are transmitted to and received from the satellite. U.S. Coast Guard illustration by Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Laughlin.

Developing the way for a Coast Guard space program

There is a new landmark at the Coast Guard Academy and it is helping to launch the Coast Guard into an era of space operations.

The satellite communications ground station on the roof of Smith Hall was built by the Coast Guard Research and Development Center to support the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Polar Scout project, which successfully launched two CubeSats in December 2018, and will soon support a broad range of educational opportunities for cadets.