Sparking a revolution in space with the first full software-defined satellite
Frédéric Piro, Eutelsat programme manager, provides techUK with the inside story of EUTELSAT QUANTUM satellite, which was successfully launched on 30 July 2021, using an Ariane 5 rocket that lifted off from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. Backed by UK Space Agency funding and built in Britain by Airbus in Portsmouth and Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) in Guildford, this satellite marks a revolutionary step forward for commercial satellites, offering unprecedented customisation and flexibility.
Here is what makes this new satellite so unique.
The world’s first large satellite capable of being reprogrammed in space
EUTELSAT QUANTUM heralds a new era of commercial satellite service. Its in-orbit reprogrammable features set a new standard in flexibility that will enable users, notably in the Government and Mobility markets, to actively define and shape performance and reach thanks to its software-based design.
The satellite’s flexible behaviour enables it to adapt to its environment, giving customers the ability to vary coverages based on their immediate needs and allocate resources between beams and regions, optimising their capacity use.
To be located at 48° East, and due to enter service during the fourth quarter of calendar 2021, EUTELSAT QUANTUM will offer extensive coverage of the MENA region and beyond.
A software-driven satellite
ESA and the UK Space Agency supported the development of the core technologies integrated into EUTELSAT QUANTUM, within the framework of a Public-Private Partnership between ESA, Eutelsat and Airbus Defence and Space.
Powerful operational software ensures that the payload resources are used as efficiently as possible, to predict, operate and manage the on-board configuration and reconfiguration of the satellite. This level of flexibility requires the ability to accurately simulate, optimise and control the satellite once it is in orbit.
Eutelsat’s customers will have their own software to implement the on-board configuration they require, while the operator manages and operates the satellite in its optimal configuration without interference within the satellite or with other nearby satellites.
The 3.5-tonne telecommunications satellite, which is the size of a delivery van, will supply services with unprecedented in-orbit reconfigurability in coverage, frequency and power, allowing complete mission rehaul, at any orbital position. It is a testimony to the innovative spirit and expertise of the space industry in Europe in the geographical sense.
To find out more about the project, head to Eutelsat's website. You can follow Eutelsat on Twitter and LinkedIn.
