Ground support equipment (mechanical and electrical), including full implementation of European Ground Systems – Common Core (EGS-CC).

Procurement of the first proto-flight models of key units, critical for market introduction.

A number of basic components, so-called Building Blocks.

The current development contracts cover the basic features of the new platform product lines however there are still additional options to be developed within the current technical baseline. In October 2015, TAS has won the first Spacebus Neo commercial satellite contract for a Broadband for Africa mission with Eutelsat (BB4A) to be launched in 2019.Īirbus Defence and Space (Airbus DS) (France) is the prime contractor for Eurostar Neo.Īirbus plans to sell the first Eurostar Neo satellite this year, and is actively marketing the new platform on the world market. Thales Alenia Space (TAS) (France) is the prime contractor for Spacebus Neo. Separate Phase C/D contracts were signed with both primes at the end of 2015, each of which leads its own European consortium. In addition to optimising the supply chain, another challenge is for each prime to design a modular product line, incorporating the right mix of new and proven technologies, capable of embarking a wide range of payloads, including the latest technologies in that particular field, and compatible with the changing launcher landscape.īoth Eurostar Neo and Spacebus Neo passed the Preliminary Design Review in early 2015. Some items, such as Xenon tanks and Electric Propulsion thrusters, are being developed for both Spacebus Neo and Eurostar Neo to benefit from economies of scale. It will be necessary to achieve high industrial and technical performance from suppliers in order for this to succeed.

Compatibility with Ariane, Proton and Falcon launcher familiesĪn important goal of the Neosat programme is to build a European supply chain which optimises costs and guarantees on-time delivery of satellites.

Easier payload accommodation for a large range of payloads.

Reduced time for assembly, integration and testing thanks to modular design.

Full electric propulsion for both orbit raising and station keeping.

The new product lines are aiming at significant cost reduction for in-orbit data capacity achieved through:

Neosat is a joint ESA/ CNES undertaking with shared programme management. The programme includes the in-orbit validation of the new platforms. The ARTES Next Generation Platform element, or NEOSAT, is the ESA programme to develop and qualify two new satellite product lines, Eurostar Neo and Spacebus Neo, that will enable the European space industry to deliver commercially competitive satellites in the 3 to 6 tons launch mass range.

Neosat 750M new firmware