Artists impression of the IS-45 HummingSat platform

Satellite operator Intelsat has placed an order for the first small geostationary “HummingSat” developed as part of ESA’s efforts to support fast, dynamic and agile private space firms in Europe.

The first HummingSat – which will be called Intelsat 45 (IS-45) – is being developed under an ESA Partnership Project with SWISSto12, an innovative company based in Renens, Switzerland, that was signed in March – just eight months ago.

Named after the tiny, agile, fast-moving and yet apparently stationary hummingbird, HummingSats are just over one cubic metre in volume, which is one-tenth the size of conventional satellites that are placed in geostationary orbit some 36 000 kilometres above Earth.

HummingSats are much more affordable to build and launch because they are small and lightweight, and are designed for rideshare missions on launchers carrying one or more larger spacecraft to geostationary transfer orbit. The satellites use innovative additive manufactured radio-frequency equipment, and are there to complement much larger legacy spacecraft, boosting and expanding capacity where needed.

Scheduled for launch in 2025, IS-45 will deliver commercial fixed-satellite services that enable Intelsat to provide a specialised and efficient service to its media and network customers.

With the IS-45 order, Intelsat becomes the first anchor customer for SWISSto12’s novel HummingSat product line, continuing its pioneering of innovative satellites. The new satellite product line recently passed its system requirements review, assessed by a panel of ESA senior engineers and experts.