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HummingSat

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HummingSat is a project between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Swiss satellite communications company, SWISSto12

The Partnership Project seeks to develop a new class of small, cost-efficient geostationary telecommunications satellites, aimed at filling a niche between large, expensive geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellites and smaller low-Earth-orbit systems. The name “HummingSat” is inspired by the hummingbird – small, agile and appearing almost stationary in flight – reflecting the ambition to deliver agile, compact satellites in geostationary orbit.


The benefits of HummingSat

Traditionally, geostationary telecommunications satellites are large, heavy, and expensive to build and launch. They require dedicated launches, large budgets and long lead times. The project recognises a shifting market: satellite operators increasingly want regional, gap-filling, and more agile services rather than only the very large global coverage platforms. 


By developing a small GEO satellite product line, HummingSat aims to:

Lower costs of manufacturing and launch, by enabling rideshare launches and reducing size and mass.
Provide more tailored regional missions or quicker replacements for ageing spacecraft.
Foster European competitiveness and innovation in satellite manufacturing, including new technologies like additive manufacturing (3D printing) for radio frequency (RF) equipment.

HummingSat is implemented as an ESA Partnership Project under our Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme. ESA shares development risk, while the industrial partner assumes the commercial risk. As well as Switzerland, participating ESA Member States include Austria, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, and Sweden.

The programme fosters supply-chain activity across ESA’s Member States, creates jobs, and supports growth of new space companies in Europe. 


HummingSat’s key features

Very compact size
The satellites are approximately one cubic metre in volume, about one-tenth the volume of a conventional GEO satellite.
Launch mass
Around 1,000 kg and designed for rideshare launches to geostationary transfer orbit, or GEO via shared launches.
Payload power
Even with its small size, HummingSat aims to deliver around 2 kW of payload power enabled by additive manufactured radio-frequency equipment and advanced technologies.
Use of 3D-printing
Additive manufacturing in radio frequency (RF) subsystems, enabling smoother production, lower cost and shorter lead time.
A product line architecture
Standardised platform and modular payload options, tailored for regional or gap-filling missions rather than only global coverage.

RELATED LINKS & CONTACS

CONTACT

Michael Witting


ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC)

Keplerlaan 1

2201 AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands

+31 625158619

Michael.Witting@esa.int

Documents

Overview page

Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES)

Overview page

Partnership Projects programme

Overview page