9 Nov 2022
An advanced broadband satellite that can offer high-speed internet connectivity anywhere on Earth is ready to enter its final assembly ahead of launch.
The beam-hopping satellite – nicknamed JoeySat after a baby kangaroo – will be used to connect thousands of people on ships at sea, on planes in flight and while travelling over land, demonstrating next-generation 5G connectivity from low Earth orbit.
8 Nov 2022
Satellite operator Intelsat has placed an order for the first small geostationary “HummingSat” developed as part of ESA’s efforts to support fast, dynamic and agile private space firms in Europe.
The first HummingSat – which will be called Intelsat 45 (IS-45) – is being developed under an ESA Partnership Project with SWISSto12, an innovative company based in Renens, Switzerland, that was signed in March – just eight months ago.
21 Oct 2022
The OneSat family of geostationary software-defined telecommunications satellites has passed successfully its first qualification review. The first part of the OneSat qualification review has successfully demonstrated the maturity of the various developments to safely proceed towards the start of satellite integration activities.
17 Oct 2022
The first satellite to be built under ESA’s Eurostar Neo programme has launched.
The satellite – called Eutelsat Hotbird 13F – was developed and built by satellite manufacturer Airbus for satellite operator Eutelsat. It is based on the Eurostar Neo telecommunications satellite platform, developed under an ESA Partnership Project with Airbus designed to foster innovation and competitiveness in the European space industry.
17 Nov 2022
A consortium of European industry, led by Dutch firm TNO and backed by the European Space Agency (ESA), has successfully established the world’s first robust optical datalink using real-world conditions in field tests held in the Netherlands.
7 Oct 2022
Oxford Space Systems has developed a metal mesh manufacturing facility at their Harwell base, manufacturing foldable surfaces for their reflector antennas. The project, backed by the European Space Agency (ESA)’s ARTES Core Competitiveness programme, will enable the company to meet the growing market demand for high-specification antennas.
3 Oct 2022
Are you ready to join ESA’s initiative to support European space companies to create a constellation of lunar satellites that connect and guide missions to the Moon?
13 Sep 2022
The first satellite to be built under ESA’s Eurostar Neo programme stands ready to be shipped to its launch site.
The satellite – called Eutelsat Hotbird 13F – is one of an identical pair developed by satellite manufacturer Airbus for satellite operator Eutelsat in an ESA Partnership Project designed to foster innovation and competitiveness in the European space industry.
8 Sep 2022
The fourth Spacebus Neo satellite to benefit from ESA’s Neosat programme has launched into space on board the second Ariane 5 launch mission of 2022.
The 8.9 metre, three-storeys-high communications satellite – which will deliver high-speed broadband and in-flight connectivity across Europe for its operator, Eutelsat – weighs 6.525 tonnes and accounted for 99% of the 6.62-tonne launch mass.
16 Aug 2022
Europe’s first commercial satellite capable of being completely reprogrammed while in space is now in commercial use. Satellite operator Eutelsat has sold six of its eight beams – used for data and mobile communications – to organisations including governments and other users. It is expected that the entire satellite capacity will be sold in the coming months.