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In-Orbit Services to Satellites Operators

Project description

A life extension service for old satellites

Geostationary satellites are positioned in a fixed location relative to the Earth’s surface, allowing them to provide continuous coverage for communication services like television broadcasting, internet connectivity and telecommunication. However, like all technological devices, these satellites have a limited operational lifetime, typically ranging from 10 to 15 years. The EIC-funded Endurance project will explore what happens to satellites reaching the end of their operational lifespans while in geostationary orbit. It offers a life extension service through rendezvous and docking operations, allowing for repair, maintenance and protection of satellites in orbit. It sets to reshape the market for space infrastructures, ensuring a more sustainable and efficient future for space exploration.

Objective

Infinite Orbits is shaping the new market for space infrastructures by providing services to repair, maintain or protect Spacecraft In Orbit. The immediate commercial application of such services is to maintain and extend the lifetime of satellites, particularly geostationary ones given their value.

Endurance is a life extension service satellite to perform rendezvous and docking operations for end-of-life geostationary telecommunications satellites. A baseline study has been completed for the identified cases and a firm order for the preliminary design project is expected before the end of 2021. The first minimum viable product of our service (OrbitGuard, without docking capacity) is expected to achieve commercial flight in orbit by December 2022. The demonstrator of our full servicer for life extension is expected in early 2025 in the ENDURANCE project.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Coordinator

INFINITE ORBITS
Net EU contribution
€ 2 254 028,00
Address
8 RUE DES 36 PONTS 7EME ETAGE
31400 TOULOUSE
France

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Occitanie Midi-Pyrénées Haute-Garonne
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost
€ 3 220 040,00