Spain's next-gen, secure satellite takes off
Europe's most advanced secure communications satellite across three frequency bands has been launched in the US.
Taking off on a Falcon 9 rocket from cape Canaveral, the first of two next- generation satellites will be operated by Hisdesat for the Spanish Armed Forces.
Prime contractor Airbus says SpainSat NG satellites will deliver a tenfold increase in communications capacity over the previous generation, allowing the transmission of more data more quickly with coverage over two thirds of the Earth’s surface.
'Europe’s most advanced secure communications satellite operating in UHF, Ka and X band' will enter into service in a geostationary orbit from the second half of this year, after initial testing,' notes Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus Defence and Space.
The X-band transmit and receive active antenna system reportedly has the functionality equivalent to 16 traditional antennas. Airbus claims the software enables them to adapt and change coverage up to 1,000 times a second and can detect, geolocate and mitigate multiple and simultaneous interference with a high precision.
The satellite is also radiation-hardened to protect against a nuclear blast.
The twin satellite SpainSat NG-II, which is currently under construction and testing at Airbus Defence and Space facilities, will be completed at the enrd of 2025.
