Surrey Satellite
Technology Ltd (SSTL) has completed the
build of the platform for EUTELSAT QUANTUM,
the world’s first geostationary
telecommunications satellite that will be
fully reconfigurable in orbit.
The EUTELSAT QUANTUM
satellite is being built under a
public–private partnership between the
European Space Agency (ESA) and the
satellite operator Eutelsat with Airbus as
the prime contractor. Today the satellite
platform, which has been designed and
manufactured by SSTL in Guildford, was on
view to invited guests at a special event to
mark the handover to Airbus who will
complete the satellite assembly and testing
in Toulouse.
The EUTELSAT QUANTUM
platform consists of a precision-engineered
composite central thrust tube standing at
2.5 metres tall which houses a bipropellant
chemical propulsion system that will enable
the satellite to stay on station throughout
its 15 year lifetime, and SSTL’s newly
developed GEO momentum wheels and gyro which
will maintain the satellite in a stable
attitude and enable adjustments in the
satellite’s orbital position.
Sarah Parker, Managing
Director of SSTL said “The completion of our
work on the EUTELSAT QUANTUM satellite
platform is an important milestone for SSTL
as it represents our first venture into the
global commercial telecoms satellite market.
The design and assembly of this innovative
spacecraft has enabled us to advance the
knowledge and skills required to develop
highly capable satellite products for the
evolving telecoms market, where we are
actively engaged in seeking new
opportunities.”
Colin Paynter, Managing
Director, Airbus Defence and Space UK, said:
“Combining the payload expertise from Airbus
in Portsmouth, and SSTL’s new geostationary
platform provides a very sophisticated
package for Eutelsat. The
satellite is a world first, fully
reprogrammable in orbit, and we’re looking
forward to seeing it fly.”
The EUTELSAT QUANTUM
satellite will be able to adapt to new
demands in coverage, bandwidth, power and
frequency, enabling it to operate
effectively from any orbital slot. EUTELSAT
QUANTUM will be the first generation of
universal satellites able to serve any
region of the world and adjust to new
business without the user needing to procure
and launch an entirely new satellite.
Featuring phased array antennas and flexible
connectivity, which is fully reconfigurable
in orbit, EUTELSAT QUANTUM will be able to
adjust its coverage and capacity to suit
customers’ needs as and when they change.
Yohann Leroy, Deputy
CEO and CTO at Eutelsat said “EUTELSAT
QUANTUM is a world first and the culmination
of many years of research by Eutelsat. Its
premium capacity will enable us to offer
game-changing optionality and flexibility to
our customers in the government, mobility
and data markets, who will be able to
operate and optimize capacity to adjust
coverages in real time, and to do so
autonomously. We are delighted to co-operate
with our long-standing partners, the ESA,
the UK Space Agency and Airbus, and to be
able to rely on the world-leading expertise
within the UK space industry.”
EUTELSAT QUANTUM uses
technology developed by Airbus and SSTL in
the UK under the ESA Advanced Research in
Telecommunications Systems programme (ARTES)
and supported by the UK Space Agency.
Magali Vaissiere, ESA
Director of Telecommunications and
Integrated Applications, said: “Eutelsat
Quantum is an important programme for both
the UK and ESA and a typical example of the
success of the ARTES public–private
partnership model. Above all, our priority
is our industry’s health and readiness for
future market challenges. Partnerships like
these that improve the competitiveness,
competence and business prospects of the
companies we support are what we dedicate
our efforts to.”
Dr Graham Turnock,
Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency,
said: “Communications satellites like
EUTELSAT QUANTUM that can be reprogrammed to
adapt coverage and connectivity in orbit
could until recently be considered the stuff
of science fiction. Through our €480m
development funding in the European Space
Agency’s ARTES programme, the government’s
Industrial Strategy and partnering with
industry leaders such as Airbus we are
helping UK businesses transform science
fiction into commercial advantage, resulting
in jobs, growth and innovation.”
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