Eutelsat Quantum
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorEutelsat
COSPAR ID2021-069B
SATCAT no.49056
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftEutelsat Quantum
BusGMP-T
ManufacturerSSTL
Launch mass3461 kg
Payload mass~450 kg
Power5500 watts
Start of mission
Launch date2021-07-30, 21:00 (2021-07-30UTC21) UTC
RocketAriane flight VA254
Launch siteELA-3
ContractorArianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference systemgeosynchronous
RegimeGEO
Slot48° East (planned)
Semi-major axis42165 km
Transponders
BandKu-band
Coverage areaMiddle East, North Africa
 

Eutelsat Quantum is a communications satellite developed in the framework of a public-private partnership between the European Space Agency, Eutelsat and Airbus Defence and Space. Operated by Eutelsat, its design allows for it to reconfigure its radios coverage zone and alter its performance according its needs. It is located in a geostationary orbit and its longitude may be modified to cover any region in the world.[1]

The satellite was launched on 30 July 2021 by an Ariane 5 rocket, together with the Brazilian Star One D2 satellite. Quantum is Eutelsat's 36th and Airbus Defence and Space's 132nd satellite launched by Arianespace.[2]

The satellite uses conventional chemical thrusters. The payload, which operates in the Ku-band, has a power rating of 5 kW. A key component of the satellite is its phased-array antenna, which was produced by Airbus's Spanish division CASA.[1]

In-orbit reconfigurability

The payload allows for the redefinition of its Ku-band beams with configurable coverage in order to follow targets (ships, aircraft, vehicles, troops) and provide them with mobile communications.

Besides coverage, bandwidth may also be modulated in terms of power and frequencies. The satellites also offers detection mitigation measures against radio jamming.

Finally, the high responsiveness will also bring benefits to governments in the event of natural disasters or surveillance operations.[3]

History

The contract establishing the public-private partnership between ESA, Eutelsat and Airbus Defence and Space was signed on 9 July 2015 in the offices of the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications in Harwell, near Oxford in the United Kingdom. It established the role of Eutelsat in the exploitation and commercialization of the new satellite, and Airbus's in the design and production. Airbus designs the payload in its premises in Portsmouth using the new “GMPT” platform developed in Guildford by its Surrey Satellite Technology subsidiary. This project is supported by ESA and the UK Space Agency in the scope of the ARTES programme for a launch initially planned for 2019.[4][5]

The development of the antenna is delayed and requires four years to the CASA division of Airbus and its industrial partners (CRISA, Arquimea and GMV[6]) with the support of the Industrial Centre for Technology Development (CDTI). The Ku-band active antenna, featuring eight independent reconfigurable beams, is unveiled in Madrid on 21 November 2019 and named ELSA+ (ELectronically Steerable Antenna+). The conducted works rely on previous accomplishments of Airbus in this field, especially the DRA/ELSA instrument designed for Hispasat 36W1, the IRMA (In-orbit Reconfigurable Multibeam Antenna) antenna for the Spainsat military satellite, and Gaia's active antenna.[7]

Quantum was assembled and tested between 2019 and 2020 in the premises of Airbus DS in Toulouse,[8] from where it was sent on 30 June 2021 to the Guiana Space Centre, before being launched successfully on 30 July 2021 on board Ariane 5 flight VA254.[9][10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Gunter's Space Page. "Eutelsat Quantum". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  2. ↑ Arianespace. "Dossier de presse VA254" (PDF). arianespace.com. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  3. ↑ Eutelsat. "Satellites Futurs". eutelsat.com (in French). Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  4. ↑ "Airbus Defence and Space signs first contract for flexible Quantum satellite with Eutelsat and ESA". Airbus. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  5. ↑ "Eutelsat Quantum - Satellite Missions - eoPortal Directory". directory.eoportal.org. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  6. ↑ "ELSA+ Enhanced active Rx antenna system". ESA TIA. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  7. ↑ "Airbus présente une technologie révolutionnaire conçue pour EUTELSAT QUANTUM". Airbus (in French). 14 June 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  8. ↑ "Reprogrammable satellite completes radio-frequency tests". www.esa.int. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  9. ↑ "Airbus built EUTELSAT QUANTUM satellite shipped to launch site". Airbus. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  10. ↑ "Reprogrammable satellite launched". www.esa.int. Retrieved 31 July 2021.


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