Palo Alto (CA), United States, February 29 2024 – 11.30 AM PST – Aerospacelab, a fast-growing company specialized in designing, manufacturing and operating small satellites at scale, announces that four of its satellites will be launched on SpaceX's upcoming Transporter-10 mission via Exolaunch no earlier than March 2024, from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States.
On this first multiple satellite launch, each of the four satellites were built using the company's tried-and-tested Versatile Satellite Platform (VSP), which utilizes in-house developed avionics subsystems. The rapid development of these platforms and payloads underscores the company's commitment to innovation and adaptability, offering significant value to a wide range of customers. Aerospacelab is committed to broadening its platform offerings to effectively serve the mission goals of its diverse customer base, including commercial and government clients.
With Aerospacelab’s first Very High
Resolution (VHR) satellite, nicknamed “Rose”, in
addition to its first trio of Radio Frequency (RF) Sensing satellites, nicknamed
“Riri, Fifi and Loulou”, the company reinforces its
expertise in the field of small satellite technology by adding two new payload’s
types to its growing portfolio of Versatile Satellite Platforms.
“Launching multiple satellites at once is a significant milestone for our company as we continue to expand our capabilities in satellite development and deployment,” said Benoît Deper, Aerospacelab’s Founder and CEO. “We have built a great team that pushes the boundaries to innovate at fast pace, and execute program deliveries on schedule and cost. We are ready for production at scale, and our systems are in place to build, launch, monitor, and maintain a constellation of satellites. Our vertical integration efforts continue, and with flight-proven subsystems in space, we can support diverse payloads for various applications, including telecommunications, navigation, and Earth Observation, by improving the efficiency and accuracy of data collection.”
"With two new payloads types, this quadruple satellite launch exemplifies our ability to build, integrate and deliver turn-key satellites that enable critical applications,” said Tina Ghataore, Aerospacelab’s CSRO (Chief Strategy & Revenue Officer). “Our prior flight heritage, expanded with this upcoming launch, positions us well to address the needs of customers both commercial and government, across multiple market applications globally.”
Riri, Fifi and Loulou’s satellites key features
These trio of Radio Frequency Sensing satellites play a crucial role in modern intelligence operations as they sese a variety of radio frequencies.
By detecting, characterizing and geo-locating a wide spectrum of radio frequency signals from a broad range of devices (Radar, Communication and Navigation), these satellites can support critical defense and security operations over areas of interest.
Rose’s satellite key features
A Very High Resolution (VHR) satellite is equipped with high-resolution imaging capabilities that can capture detailed images of Earth's surface. Once in orbit, this satellite can provide images with pixel sizes ranging from a few centimeters to less than a meter, allowing for precise monitoring and analysis of various features and phenomena on the Earth's surface.
Having a high-resolution satellite in orbit is essential due to the wealth of data and imagery it provides for various applications like environmental monitoring and defense strategies. VHR satellites imagery and data enable the gathering of important insights that help make informed decisions on how we approach issues such as disaster response, urban planning, and national security.
Note for editors
Radio Frequency Sensing Satellites’ Factsheet
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Very High Resolution Satellite’s
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Name: Riri, Fifi and Loulou In short: this trio of small satellites has been designed and built by Aerospacelab based on its Versatile Satellite Platform. Their mission will demonstrate Radio Frequency monitoring capability. This project was supported by the Walloon region. Satellite mass: 136 kg (about 299.83 lb) Satellite dimensions: 114 x 70 x 72 cm3 Orbit: SSO 525 km (about 326.22 mi) +/- 20 km (about 12.43 mi) Receiving stations: Polar stations Lifetime: 5 years Prospected launch window: no earlier than March 2024 Launch site: Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, United States Launch vehicle: Falcon 9 Mission: SpaceX Transporter-10
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Name: Rose In short: VHR, a small satellite designed and built by Aerospacelab and based on its Versatile Satellite Platform. Its mission will demonstrate high-resolution imaging capabilities for Earth Observation. This project was supported by the Walloon region. Satellite dimensions: 113 x 70 x 70 cm3 Orbit: SSO 525 km (about 326.22 mi) +/- 20 km (about 12.43 mi) Receiving stations: Polar stations Lifetime: 5 years Prospected launch window: no earlier than March 2024 Launch site: Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, United States Launch vehicle: Falcon 9 Mission: SpaceX Transporter-10
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For more information, visual assets and interview requests, please contact:
Aerospacelab
Célia Berlemont, Senior Manager, Marketing,
Communications & PR:
+32 474 75 00 02 – celia.berlemont@aerospacelab.com
About Aerospacelab
Founded in 2018, Aerospacelab is an emerging figure in the aerospace sector, showcasing a remarkable achievement of 4 satellites successfully deployed in orbit. We pride ourselves on our dedication to vertical integration and TRL9 implementation, solidifying our commitment to driving innovation in the space industry.
With our operations strategically placed in various locations, including the US, Aerospacelab remains steadfast in its mission to deliver pioneering solutions for our diverse customer community.