D-Orbit
D-Orbit Awarded With ESA GSTP Contract for the Development of a Precise In-Orbit CubeSat Deployer
D-Orbit Awarded With ESA GSTP Contract for the Development of a Precise In-Orbit CubeSat Deployer
The European Space Agency (ESA) awarded D-Orbit SpA with the General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) contract n°4000126167 titled “Development of a Precise In-Orbit CubeSat Deployer.”
The GSTP is an optional ESA program to enable the European space industry to develop leading edge space technology. Under the GSTP, ESA partner organizations —the Italian Space Agency (ASI) in this instance— allocate additional funding for a project. The program’s mission is to convert promising engineering concepts into mature products, bridging the gap between research laboratories and commercial space missions.
“We are proud of the confidence that ESA has demonstrated by awarding us this contract,” said Renato Panesi, D-Orbit’s Chief Commercial Officer. “We are extremely grateful to the Italian Space Agency for creating this opportunity.”
The €2.6M contract covers the study, specification, design, production, and qualification of a small satellite with the ability to transport a batch of CubeSats to
The satellite will feature modular and configurable dispensers, designed to accommodate several combinations of CubeSats of different form factors. Each CubeSat will be connected to the satellite bus until deployment, receiving power and data, enabling operators to check out their CubeSats during the pre-launch phases and before their release into orbit.
This launch and deployment solution will provide a single interface towards the launcher authorities, a simplification of satellite integration for CubeSat operators, and a precision deployment to orbit that will significantly reduce satellite dispersion time.
D-Orbit has already gained a foothold on the development of this CubeSat launch and deployment technology with its ION CubeSat Carrier, a free-flyer CubeSat dispenser whose first launch is slated for mid-2019.
“We are all extremely excited to have a chance to work with ESA on our next generation CubeSat Carriers,” said Lorenzo Ferrario, D-Orbit Chief Technology Officer.
The first phase of the contract, which started on January 1st, 2019, and will last five months, will lead to the finalization of the design. The second phase, which will last 11 months, will end with the delivery of the fully qualified spacecraft. The launch is slated for second half of 2020.
The management of D-Orbit, along with the entire team, expresses their gratitude to the Italian Space Agency for believing in us and sharing our vision.
D-Orbit
D-Orbit is a service provider for the traditional and new space sectors, with capabilities in satellite manufacturing, launch, deployment, satellite operations, end-of-life strategies and solutions, space propulsion and related critical software. Its products and services cover the entire lifecycle of a space mission, including mission analysis and design, engineering, manufacturing, integration, testing, launch, and end-of-life decommissioning.
Founded in 2011, D-Orbit employs about 40 people. The firm is based in Como, Italy, Washington DC, United States, and Lisbon, Portugal.
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For more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with:
Elena Sanfilippo Ceraso – Media Manager
elena.sanfilippo@deorbitaldevices.com
(+39) 02 3792 0900
Caricato il 09/01/2019
