Artistic rendition of the HISPASAT AG-1 satellite. Image courtesy of OHB.
[SatNews] Developed and built by OHB System, the “Hispasat Advanced Generation 1” (“Hispasat AG1”) geostationary communications satellite yesterday evening departed from the integration hall in Bremen.
After successful system testing at the end of the integration phase in Bremen, the environmental impact testing campaign is now to commence. Hispasat AG1 will undergo this testing over the next few weeks at the space center operated by IABG in Ottobrunn near Munich. During environmental impact testing, the satellite is placed in a thermal vacuum chamber, where its functions are tested under space conditions in both heat and cold and in vacuums. Further functional testing entails the simulation of mechanical and also electro-magnetic strain on the satellite.
As the principal contractor, OHB is responsible for the overall satellite system, integration of the satellite, in-orbit testing and start-up. In addition, it will provide real-time support during the satellite’s entire 15-year service life. Spanish communications service provider and satellite operator Hispasat will be using HAG1 to supply Spain and Portugal, the Canary Islands and America with multimedia services. This is the first satellite to use Europe’s new SmallGEO platform, developed through a public–private partnership between the European Space Agency (ESA) and OHB.
Additionally, OHB Sweden, Stockholm, and ÅAC Microtec, Uppsala, have been appointed by the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB) to deliver a highly capable small satellite platform, named InnoSat, and to accomplish the advanced scientific mission named MATS (Mesospheric Airglow/Aerosol Tomography and Spectroscopy).
Artistic rendition of MATS in orbit.
The two companies' extensive expertise, innovative products and efficient work approaches are successfully combined, giving Sweden the advantage to build advanced satellites at a very competitive price. OHB Sweden and ÅAC Microtec have been contracted by SNSB to develop, integrate and operate MATS, the first scientific mission based on the new innovative state-of-the-art small satellite platform. The launch of the satellite is currently planned for spring 2018. The total contract value including launch and operations is about 9 million euros.
"This will, once again, give our Swedish scientists the chance for unique world-class research. For us it means that we retain and further develop the national capacity to build complete space systems. As the next innovation step after satellites like Odin, SMART-1 and PRISMA, we are together with ÅAC Microtec developing a highly competitive product for the international market," said Gierth Olsson, CEO of OHB Sweden.
“There is a clear trend for smaller and more affordable satellites meeting higher performance requirements than was previously possible. The development of the small satellite market has really exploded in recent years. Driving factors are among other technological progress and budget constraints forcing a paradigm shift. We see a huge global potential for AAC’s reliable satellite systems and the new InnoSat platform and look forward to the cooperation with OHB Sweden, "said Mikael Andersson, CEO of ÅAC Microtec. InnoSat is a satellite in the micro-class (10-100 kg), which, in its standard version, will have a mass of about 40 kg. and dimensions of 60 x 70 x 85 cm. The satellite design is flexible and can be adapted for other instruments with requirements beyond the standard specification.