New Delhi: Swiss aerospace manufacturer SWISSto12 has announced a contract with German high-performance space subsystem provider HPS/LSS. The Munich-based
consortium will provide a large deployable reflector subsystem (LDRS) for the NEASTAR-1 mission, built on SWISSto12’s HummingSat, a small satellite platform for Geostationary Orbit. The Germany-led antenna reflector subsystem is the result of over 15 years of development under the Advanced Research in Telecommunications (ARTES) programme of the European Space Agency (ESA), the Horizon 2020 programme of the European Union, and the technology development activities of ESA. The contract for the antenna reflector is co-funded by ESA, with core funding from the German Space Agency, and further contributions from ESA Member States.
SWISSto12 has developed a large industrial footprint in Germany since the inception of the HummingSat programme. The latest contract further strengthens German partnership. CEO and Founder of SWISSto12, Emile de Rijk said, “Collaboration with HPS/LSS was fast and effective from the first day. We value their culture of precision engineering, deep-tech innovation, and commitment to excellence along with a drive for fast and efficient execution. They have demonstrated a strong technical heritage and proven track record in building LDRS, notably for ESA missions, underscoring the progress of ESA and DLR’s vision to develop resilient, sovereign space capabilities.”
Asia Pacific’s first dedicated Satellite-to-Device Platform
The NEASTAR_1 satellite will be operated from geosynchronous orbit, over the Asia Pacific region. The satellite will be capable of delivering rich media, data casting, IoT, mass notification and emergency notification services throughout Asia Pacific, with undisrupted service through typhoons, floods and earthquakes. The tech will enable the first direct-to-device media broadcasting capabilities from geostationary orbit. Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity at ESA, Laurent Jaffart said, “ESA’s long-term investment in innovation and partnerships enable cutting-edge technologies to be brought to market, crucially boosting Europe’s global competitiveness, while strengthening autonomy and resilience. By leveraging Europe’s industrial excellence within two of our key Member States, this contract is a prime example of how strong collaboration will be translated into advancing the next-generation of connectivity – particularly within the direct-to-device domain.”
