ESA is bringing together Hungarian and Estonian space expertise, which will see the development and launch of Estonia’s first commercial satellite. Under ESA’s strategic programme line on Optical and Quantum Communications - Scylight, the Agency is working in partnership with Spaceit OÜ and Golbriak Space OÜ, alongside the project’s prime, C3S LLC from Hungary under the OPS-SAT ORIOLE (Optical Relay and Infrared Optics for LEO Experiments) project.
The project will embark an innovative optical payload that can perform high speed space to ground optical communication when passing over a ground station and be switched to thermal infrared imaging at other times. This will be the first step of a process that will help lead to a commercial Estonian space sector.
Additionally, the near real-time switching of high-speed radio communications across ground stations will enable faster download speeds for the Earth observation data.
OPS-SAT ORIOLE is supported by two ESA Member States, showcasing ESA’s role in pooling Europe’s expertise and resources to further develop the continent’s technological capabilities. The project’s major goal is to enable and encourage the growth of commercialised space data and technologies in Estonia, with OPS-SAT ORIOLE scheduled for launch in early 2026.
The prime contractor, CS3 LLC, based in Budapest, Hungary, will develop the satellite platform, having a rich history in the design and manufacture of 3-16U CubeSat platforms. Estonian companies, Spaceit OÜ, (a space company which provides a cloud-based platform for mission control and ground station services based in Tartu) will provide the project’s ground software and operations, and Golbriak Space OÜ (an optical communications solutions company for aerospace based in Tallinn) will provide the combined optical communication terminal and thermal camera.
In a meeting, at Space Tech Expo in Bremen, Germany, ESA’s Head of the Optical and Quantum Communications Office managing the Strategic Programme Line ScyLight, Harald Hauschildt said: “Developing a commercially competitive ecosystem is crucial in developing European expertise and capabilities in space. ESA is proud to be playing a pivotal role in building such an ecosystem in Estonia through the OPS-SAT ORIOLE project, alongside our Member States and industry partners.”
“With our CubeSats, we have already achieved remarkable results in scientific and remote sensing missions. However, the OPS-SAT ORIOLE satellite represents a new milestone for us, allowing us to demonstrate our excellence in cutting-edge optical communication services together with our Estonian partners, paving the way for providing services in the future,” emphasised Gyula Horváth, CEO of C3S.
As part of ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme, the Strategic Programme Line for Optical and Quantum Communications - ScyLight focuses on advancing optical and quantum technologies to revolutionise satellite communications. The programme supports the research, development and utilisation of these technologies. ESA is enabling future quantum communication networks with ultra-secure global connectivity by advancing space-based quantum key distribution and maturing technologies already available today.
Through supporting industry to develop and extend its manufacturing capabilities, it helps prepare European and Canadian industry stakeholders to seize related market opportunities.
