Satellite operator SES is entering into a public private partnership with the European Space Agency to develop an all-electric satellite.
Under the ELECTRA programme, ESA and SES aim to develop a full-electric propulsion small/medium sized satellite…
Satellite operator SES is entering into a public private partnership with the European Space Agency to develop an all-electric satellite.
Under the ELECTRA programme, ESA and SES aim to develop a full-electric propulsion small/medium sized satellite platform that is fully manufactured in Europe. Such a satellite would be substantially lighter, at around 3 tons, than conventional satellites that use chemical propulsion thereby enabling it to take advantage of smaller launch vehicles, such as Soyuz or Falcon 9, or dual launch capabilities.
According to an SES spokesman, the company’s role in the first phase of the programme would ostensibly be as the project manager. During this phase SES and the satellite’s prime contractor, German satellite manufacturer OHB System, would finalise the design of the spacecraft.
Once the companies then have a better understanding of the cost and technical challenges involved, the second phase would be to then define a mission. SES said that it would need to pay for a satellite if it ordered one.
Funding for the initial stage will predominantly come from ESA with backing from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Indeed, SES’ role in the project largely came about through Luxembourg’s contribution to the ESA Ministerial Council in Naples, Italy.
The time frame for the project is not fixed, although there is an unofficial launch date of 2016.
OHB’s participation in ELECTRA is in part due to the fact that the company is already developing a small geostationary platform, Hispasat-AG1, for Spanish satellite operator Hispasat. That satellite, which uses traditional chemical propulsion, is scheduled for a 2014 launch.
Commenting on the project, SES’ chief technology officer Martin Halliwell said: “ELECTRA perfectly fits into the innovation priorities of SES. Decreasing the total cost of putting a payload into orbit is a key strategic element for the satellite operator community. Electric propulsion is poised to inject increased competitiveness into the satellite industry, an essential element for the sustained development of the satellite-based commercial telecommunications market. SES is pleased to trigger this ELECTRA initiative and to establish a strong relationship with ESA,” said.
Back in March 2012, US aerospace giant Boeing announced a joint procurement agreement with Asia Broadcast Satellite and Satélites Mexicanos to construct four all-electric 702SP satellites, the first two of which are slated to be launched by SpaceX in early 2015 from Cape Canaveral.
While all-electric satellites can take four to six months to reach their orbital position following launch, the cost savings in launching them has made the platform an increasingly appealing option. To that end, a number of other satellite manufacturers have been looking to develop and offer their own small all-electric platform.
