Launch of Eutelsat Quantum on board Ariane 5

Launch of the Eutelsat Quantum telecommunications satellite capable of being reprogrammed while in orbit.

Developed under an ESA Partnership Project, the satellite is pioneering a new generation of fully reconfigurable satellites that can respond while in orbit to changing demands on Earth during their 15-year lifetimes.

It is the first reprogrammable commercial telecommunications satellite to operate in a high-frequency radio range called the Ku band that is used for data transmission and secure communications, notably with ships at sea.

Its beams can be redirected to move in almost real time to provide information to passengers on board moving planes or ships. The beams can also be adjusted at the push of a button, so that more data is delivered when demand surges.

The successful development and manufacture of the satellite resulted from the contribution of all industrial partners under an ESA Partnership Project with satellite operator Eutelsat. It is a UK flagship project with most of the satellite developed and manufactured by UK industry. Airbus is the prime and was responsible for manufacturing the satellite’s payload and Surry Satellite Technology Ltd manufactured the new platform.

ESA Partnership Projects maximise benefits to the European and Canadian space industries by forging trusted partnerships, thanks to efficient co-management tailored to commercial best practices.