Space logistics and transportation company D-Orbit announced the signing of a launch contract with AAC SpaceQuest, the US subsidiary of AAC Clyde Space. SpaceQuest is a well-established satellite manufacturer and operator specialized in small satellite technologies and space data services.

The agreement covers the launch and deployment of an initial two satellites, based on SpaceQuest's newest generation of maritime satellite design, with an option for an additional two spacecraft. The satellites, called respectively Sedna 1, 2 will scale the company's satellite automatic identification system ("S-AIS") space infrastructure and validate new, key maritime space-data technologies.

The launch and deployment mission will leverage ION Satellite Carrier, D-Orbit's orbital transfer vehicle, which has carried out six commercial missions since 2020. ION is a multi-purpose vehicle whose mission profiles include transporting satellites across orbits to deploy them into custom operational slots, operations on hosted payloads, and pay-per-use in-orbit cloud storage and edge computing in space.

"We are thrilled to partner with AAC SpaceQuest to test an innovative satellite application like S-AIS," said Renato Panesi, D-Orbit's chief commercial officer (CCO) of D-Orbit. "With this first launch we are laying the foundations of what we hope is going to be a long and mutually rewarding collaboration."

"We are very pleased to develop our relationship with D-Orbit as a trusted partner in this key phase of expansion for our satellite data services business and look forward to our continued partnership on subsequent launches for our new SednaSats," said Chris Fauquier, CEO of AAC SpaceQuest.

The target launch for the first two satellites is Q4 of 2023; the remaining will be launched during the first semester of 2024.

CAPTION The contract covers launch and deployment of four S-AIS satellites over two launches in 2023 and 2024.

Related Links
D-Orbit
AAC SpaceQuest
Space Technology News - Applications and Research

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

US Space Command to Transfer Space Object Tracking to Department of Commerce
Washington DC (SPX) Oct 24, 2022
Right now, U.S. Space Command tracks more than 47,000 objects in space. But there are plans to transfer that responsibility to the Department of Commerce, an effort that will allow Spacecom to focus more on what's happening in space rather than just on the tracking of objects there, the Spacecom commander said. "My current priority is to invest in space domain awareness. To ... gain a better understanding of the activities in space," Army Gen. James Dickinson said. "Our challenges center on ensuri ... read more