A group of UK space tech companies are developing a new beam-hopping satellite that will allow satellites to switch which part of the world they cover, managing real-time surges in commercial demand or responding to emergencies such as natural disasters.听
Led by global satellite communications network听OneWeb, the industrial partners have received over 拢32 million from the UK Space Agency, via the European Space Agency鈥檚 Sunrise Programme, for a demonstration satellite due for launch in 2022.听
The satellite, nicknamed 鈥楯oey-Sat鈥� for its beam-hopping abilities, will be able to remotely direct beams to boost coverage in certain locations, such as areas of high usage where the network is struggling to cope with demand.听
Science Minister Amanda Solloway said: 鈥淔rom helping during a disaster to providing broadband on planes, this amazing technology will show how听next-generation听5G connectivity can benefit all of us on Earth.听
鈥淚t is fantastic to see some of our finest space tech companies joining forces on this exciting project which will put the UK at the forefront of satellite communications technology.鈥�听
The new funding, which builds on the UK Space Agency鈥檚 previous investments in the Sunrise Programme, will see听OneWeb听team up with other UK companies,听SatixFy, Celestia UK and听Astroscale听UK, to demonstrate the technology for its second-generation constellation of satellites.听
Massimiliano听Ladovaz, Chief Technical Officer at听OneWeb, said: 鈥淚nnovation and collaboration are at the core of听OneWeb. Working together with our partners,听Oneweb听will accelerate the development and expansion of our cutting-edge technologies and manufacturing capabilities for the benefit of communities, enterprise and governments around the world.听
鈥淭his is an exciting opportunity to work with talented potential supply chain partners and we are delighted with the support from ESA and the UK Space Agency to bring continued innovation across the whole of听翱苍别奥别产鈥檚听connectivity ecosystem.鈥�听
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The satellite鈥檚 pilot beam-hopping payload will be developed by听SatixFy, based in Farnborough. The user terminal to support this satellite is also being developed by听SatixFy, who have been awarded over 拢25 million.听
Charlie Bloomfield, CEO of听SatixFy听Space Systems, said: 鈥淲e are really excited to be demonstrating new game-changing satellite payload capabilities in space next year, in collaboration with听OneWeb.听
鈥淭he 拢25m funding from the UK Space Agency via ESA, matched with听厂补迟颈虫贵测鈥檚听own internal investment, will not only demo best-in-class future payload capability, but will also result in the lowest-cost and highest performance听electronically-steered听multibeam user-terminals on the market.听听
鈥淯KSA and ESA support has been fundamental in unlocking these new technologies and we look forward to a fruitful and ongoing partnership with them.鈥�听
Celestia UK, based in Edinburgh, has been given 拢4.4 million to develop and trial smart ground-station technology featuring multibeam electronically steered antenna to reduce the footprint and costs of each ground station and increase the efficiency of the whole ground network.听
Jos茅 Alonso, President of Celestia UK, said: 鈥淭he business opportunity that听OneWeb听and UK Space Agency have presented to Celestia UK in the context of the Sunrise Programme is outstanding. The pioneering project we are developing looks set to become a game changer in the satcom ground segment market.听
鈥淕ateways and user terminals are key elements in the听OneWeb听constellation, and Celestia UK鈥檚 products will be state-of-the-art and fit for commercial purpose. We are very proud to be part of Sunrise.鈥�听
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