The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that the world’s first commercial fully flexible software-defined telecommunications satellite has been integrated on its launch rocket. It is now ready for its launch, which is scheduled for Friday (July 30).
The satellite, designated Eutelsat Quantum, was developed by ESA as a partnership with European satellite telecommunications company Eutelsat. The prime contractor for the spacecraft was Airbus, which was also responsible for manufacturing the satellite payload.
Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (a UK subsidiary of Airbus) was responsible for the new satellite platform. Most of the satellite was developed and manufactured by British industry, because the programme was also a UK flagship project.
The satellite will be able to be reprogrammed in orbit. This will mean that over its 15-year lifetime it will be able to meet changing data transmission and secure communications demands.
Moreover, its transmission beams can be redirected in almost real time so as to be able to supply information to passengers on moving aircraft or ships. Its transmissions can also be adjusted easily, to provide more data when there are surges in demand.
Eutelsat Quantum can also detect and characterise ‘rogue’ emissions, should they occur. This will allow it to dynamically respond to both accidental interference and intentional jamming. It will be launched by an Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket, from the European spaceport in French Guiana, in South America.