A fully reconfigurable, software-defined, standardised satellite for the commercial telecommunications market is under development, with contributions from a new Partnership Project between satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space and ESA.
Space Inspire is a new product line for geostationary satellites that will allow customers unprecedented flexibility for video broadcasting and broadband connectivity services by reconfiguring their missions and services instantly in-orbit.
ESA has signed the contract with Thales Alenia Space to develop and qualify European subsystems and equipment for integration into Space Inspire product line, in collaboration with the French space agency, CNES.