Thales successfuly integrated the SPAINSAT NG satellite communication payloads at Thales Alenia Space’s clean rooms in Tres Cantos marking a significant milestone for the Spanish space industry.
Article continues below
The Communications Module of the SpainSat NG-I telecommunications satellite, developed under the ownership of Hisdesat Servicios Estratégicos S.A., has departed Thales Alenia Space’s facility in Tres Cantos, Spain, securely transported in a specially designed container on a dedicated truck.
The module is en route to Airbus Defence and Space in Toulouse, France, where the assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) process for the entire satellite will take place.
The SPAINSAT NG program, comprising two satellites, SpainSat NG I and II, is designed to provide enhanced secure communication services to the Spanish Ministry of Defence and Governmental Agencies.
These satellites will operate in X, military Ka, and UHF bands from separate geostationary positions.
The communication payloads for both satellites are supplied by Spanish industry, with the Communications Module’s integration in Spain representing a significant advancement for the country’s space sector.
Airbus Defence and Space in Spain is responsible for the integrated X-band payload, while Thales Alenia Space in Spain is tasked with the UHF and Ka-band payloads for both satellites.
Several other Spanish space industry companies are also involved in the project.
The Communications Module of SpainSat NG-I arrived in Tres Cantos in December 2021 and has since undergone comprehensive assembly, integration, and testing of the three communication payloads, involving numerous electronics and radiofrequency units across X, military Ka, and UHF bands.
With the completion of AIT activities at satellite level in Toulouse, SpainSat NG-I will be prepared for launch in 2024.
Meanwhile, the Communications Module of its twin satellite, SpainSat NG-II, will continue with the assembly, integration, and testing of the payloads at Thales Alenia Space’s clean rooms in Tres Cantos. ■
Albania's gross domestic product increased by an annual 3.23 percent in the second quarter (Q2) of 2023, after increasing by 2.72 percent year on year in the first quarter, the National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) said.