Small Sat, Big Relay
A significant contract has been inked by a Switzerland-based firm specializing in compact geostationary satellites. This agreement involves the creation
of the very first optical relay spacecraft that utilizes their innovative, compact platform, aptly named HummingSat. This miniature satellite, comparable in size to a household washing machine, is set to redefine capabilities in geostationary orbit for commercial data relay. The contract was formally announced on March 23rd with a Japanese venture focused on data relay services for Earth observation. Their ambition is to enable near-real-time transmission of vital information gathered from our planet. The chief executive of the satellite manufacturing company highlighted that their HummingSat is a pioneering commercial optical relay satellite within the small satellite class. This contrasts sharply with the larger, government-initiated systems currently in geostationary orbit, such as Europe's EDRS and Japan's LUCAS. The spacecraft designated for this mission, SC-A, is anticipated for delivery within Japan's fiscal year 2028, which spans from April 2028 to March 2029, marking a significant milestone in space technology deployment.
GEO Satellites Gain Momentum
The realm of small geostationary satellites is experiencing a surge in interest and adoption. The contract for the SC-A spacecraft represents the sixth announcement of a HummingSat order for the Swiss company. Previous agreements were made with established players like SES, Viasat, and Astrum Mobile, all of which intended to use the platform with radio-frequency payloads. The initial on-orbit debut of the HummingSat platform is scheduled for 2027 as part of the SES Intelsat 45 mission. For the SC-A project, the company is sourcing optical communication terminals from a seasoned equipment provider. The strategic purpose of SC-A is to act as a foundational element, a pathfinder for the development of a much broader network dedicated to optical data relay. The CEO emphasized that this mission is designed to conclusively demonstrate that substantial and market-competitive optical data relay services can indeed be deployed from geostationary orbit using a small satellite platform like HummingSat. The long-term vision includes expanding this constellation to multiple satellites to achieve comprehensive global coverage, a feat made achievable by the capabilities of HummingSat.
Future Network Vision
Space Compass, the entity commissioning this advanced satellite, is a collaborative venture formed by Japan's premier satellite operator, Sky Perfect JSAT, and the telecommunications giant NTT. Their overarching objective is to offer a dual-use relay service, catering to both governmental and commercial clientele. This initiative aligns with previous explorations into optical communication technologies by Space Compass. Notably, in the preceding year, Space Compass announced a collaboration to investigate the interoperability between their planned relay capabilities and an upcoming satellite from the Greek operator, Hellas Sat 5. This particular satellite is being engineered with an integrated optical payload, indicating a growing industry trend towards optical communication. The demand for compact geostationary satellites in both sovereign and commercial sectors remains robust. This demand is particularly driven by regional communication needs and replacement missions, as satellite operators actively seek more economical solutions amidst a broader industry shift towards multi-orbit strategies and low-Earth orbit systems. Other companies like Astranis, based in the U.S., are also accumulating orders for similarly sized satellites, and Finland's ReOrbit has recently secured a deal for two sub-ton geostationary communication satellites.
