The Quantum-class telecommunications satellite is being developed by the public-private partnership between Eutelsat and the European Space Agency (ESA). The satellite, which will have the first fully-reconfigurable communications payload, is expected to be launched into the geostationary equatorial orbit (GEO) in 2018.
The configurable payload allows for adapting to evolving demands in coverage, bandwidth, power and frequency configurability and will be able to alter the orbital position too, eliminating the need for launching an entirely new satellite when a customer's business needs change.
Quantum satellite programme details
The Quantum satellite programme is part of the ESA Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES 33.3) programme supported by the UK Space Agency. Eutelsat Communications will commercialise and operate the satellite.
Expected to serve government, mobility and data markets, the satellites developed under the programme will be cost-effective and quicker to build compared to the existing methods, which use generic subsystems and equipment.
Quantum satellite design and features
The first Quantum satellite will have a launch mass of 3,500kg and an all Ku-band communications payload mass of 450kg. It will be launched using conventional thruster propulsion and will have a designed lifespan of more than15 years.
The all Ku-band communications payload will use 5kW of power. The spacecraft's phased array antenna is being provided by Airbus's Spanish CASA division.
Communication capabilities of the telecommunication satellite
"The satellite, which will have the first fully-reconfigurable communications payload, is expected to be launched into the geostationary equatorial orbit (GEO) in 2018."
The Quantum satellite will feature software-defined receive and transmit coverages in Ku-band as well as on-board jamming detection and mitigation. It will offer dynamic beam shaping and vessel-tracking capabilities, which are useful to provide the power necessary for maritime, aeronautical and land-based transportation.
The satellite will provide data networks including wide-area networks and dynamic traffic shaping. Governments can benefit from the rapid response offered by the satellite for public protection and disaster recovery.
Contractors involved with the development of Eutelsat's first Quantum satellite
Airbus Defence and Space (ADS) was awarded a €180m ($198m) contract to develop the first flexible Quantum satellite in July 2015. The satellite is being and constructed and assembled at the ESA's European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) on the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, UK, and is expected to be delivered by 2018.
Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), a subsidiary of ADS, was contracted to build the GMP-T small satellite bus platform.
Anaren was awarded a $7m contract for providing advanced beamforming assembly to be deployed on the Eutelsat Quantum satellite programme, in January 2016. The satellite will include a phased array antenna developed by Spanish CASA division of Airbus.
SpaceX was selected to provide launch operations of the first Eutelsat Quantum satellite.
Marketing commentary on Eutelsat
Headquartered in Paris, France, Eutelsat Communications is a leading operator of communications satellites. The company has a fleet of more than 35 satellites with wide variety of customers including broadcasting organisations, pay-TV operators, internet service providers, and government agencies.
It has a workforce of more than 1,000 people across 32 countries, and regional offices and teleports located worldwide.
Source: http://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/eutelsat-quantum-satellite/
