The first "flexible" commercial satellite that can be reprogrammed in orbit, Quantum will be launched on Friday from Kourou, Guyana, by an Ariane 5 rocket. Once placed in geostationary orbit, about 36,000 km from Earth, Quantum will offer the capacity of be completely reconfigured from the ground, over a lifespan of 15 years.
Space Europe is preparing to launch, on Friday from the Kourou base in Guyana, "Quantum", the first "flexible" commercial satellite which can be reprogrammed in orbit.
Built by Airbus Defense System, this new generation satellite, increasingly digital (with on-board capabilities), weighs 3.5 tonnes and is capable of being reprogrammed in orbit for various missions.
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"Go to larger areas on Earth"
At any time, this satellite can be reconfigured and serve any region of the globe, unlike most existing satellites. On board, a new antenna allows it to change geographic area, while remaining fixed in the sky, at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers. For example, a cruise ship company could use this satellite to provide high speed internet to its customers; armed forces intervening in a foreign country, under the aegis of the UN, will be able to communicate in any zone in the world.
"With this satellite we are going one step further," explains Élodie Viau, director of telecommunications at the European Space Agency.
"The satellite beam is capable of making local spots and areas, or going to larger areas on Earth for more extensive service and adapting that to real time."
Indeed, the reconfiguration of this satellite for a new mission will only take a few minutes.
The cost of this device amounts to 200 million euros, with both private and public funding, including 80 million euros invested by the European Space Agency.