AAC Clyde Space to be part of first European Space Situational Awareness GEO satellite
AAC CLYDE SPACE TO BE PART OF FIRST EUROPEAN SPACE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS GEO SATELLITE
2023-01-26 AAC Clyde Space AB (publ)
A consortium including AAC Clyde Space's subsidiary AAC Hyperion has been selected by European Defence Fund to develop a less than 100 kg satellite to be placed in geostationary orbit (GEO) for space situational awareness. The satellite, named Naucrates, is not to be trackable from ground radar, optical telescope or radio telescope. It is set to be the first European GEO satellite for Space Situational Awareness (SSA) in GEO.
With its expertise in attitude determination and control systems, AAC Hyperion will provide components for the prototype. As a consortium partner, AAC Hyperion will also participate in designing the satellite bus, its prototype as well as in integration and testing. This project receives funding from the European Defence Fund (EDF) of EUR 0.7 M (approx. SEK 8.0 M) under grant agreement 101102517 - NAUCRATES - EDF-2021-OPEN-D. The satellite is expected to be delivered in 2026.
Europe, with its fleet of both military and commercial GEO satellites, increasingly needs independent space monitoring and surveillance capabilities. The Naucrates satellite will fulfil a critical role in the European ability to perform Space Situational Awareness. The satellite will be positioned in a stable orbit outside the GEO belt not to disturb other satellites or transmissions, with the capability to approach other objects in GEO to take centimeter level resolution images. It will host an optical telescope using special infrared for images transmission to minimize eavesdropping possibilities.
"We are proud to be part of this cutting-edge project, that will advance the capabilities of small satellites even further, while contributing to a safer orbital environment.." says AAC Clyde Space CEO Luis Gomes.
Satellites in geostationary orbit remain exactly above the equator at approx. 36,000 kilometers not changing their position with respect to a location on Earth. The Naucrates satellite will be launched directly into GEO by Ariane 6 and could stay in orbit for a 3 to 5 years.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please visit: www.aac-clyde.space or contact:
CEO Luis Gomes [email protected]
CFO Mats Thideman, [email protected], mobile +46 70 556 09 73
The following documents can be retrieved from beQuoted
AAC-Clyde-Space-Press-release-2023-01-26.pdf
ABOUT AAC CLYDE SPACE
AAC Clyde Space specialises in small satellite technologies and services that enable businesses, governments and educational organisations to access high-quality, timely data from space. Its growing capabilities bring together three divisions:
Space Data as a Service - delivering data from space directly to customers
Space missions - turnkey solutions that empower customers to streamline their space missions
Space products and components - a full range of off-the-shelf and tailor-made subsystems, components and sensors
AAC Clyde Space aims to become a world leader in commercial small satellites and services from space, applying advances in its technology to tackle global challenges and improve our life on Earth.
The Group's main operations are located in Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, South Africa and the USA, with partner networks in Japan and South Korea.
AAC Clyde Space's shares are traded on Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market. Erik Penser Bank AB is the Certified Adviser. The share is also traded on the US OTCQX-market under the symbol ACCMF.
NOTE
This reflects only the AAC Clyde Space's view and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.