SAN FRANCISCO – D-Orbit will supply a small orbiting laboratory and test optical intersatellite links under the most recent contracts awarded through Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Under a 6 million euro ($6.54 million) contract announced June 22, D-Orbit will confirm the performance of optical intersatellite links for an Earth remark constellation called IRIDE, or International Report for Modern Defense of Earth.
The low Earth orbit network includes imaging payloads to observe Italy’s critical infrastructure, air quality and meteorological conditions. Italian startup Stellar Project is supplying laser communications technology to be tested onboard D-Orbit’s ION Satellite Carrier.
Orbiting Lab
D-Orbit also won a contract with a price of roughly 4.8 million euros to work with the Italian Space Agency to determine the In-Orbit Space Lab. The space segment of the laboratory might be housed in an ION Satellite Carrier.
Geospatial data company Planetek Italia, the prime contractor for the In-Orbit Space Lab, will integrate the bottom and space segments, and provide software. Aiko, an Italian firm focused on spacecraft artificial intelligence, will handle automation and data processing.
The In-Orbit Space Lab can have extensive on-orbit computing capability, Stefano Antonetti, D-Orbit vp of business development and institutional sales, said in a press release. “Our ION Satellite Carrier has been designed to be a key element of such an infrastructure,” he added.
National Recovery Plan
Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, a billion-euro initiative to bolster the nation’s post-pandemic economy, has been a boon for space corporations.
D-Orbit alone has claimed 4 multimillion contracts through the initiative.
“These contracts represent an incredible opportunity to participate in national projects that may mark historic milestones the space sector and cooperate with a number of the most renown and progressive Italian corporations within the industry,” D-Orbit said in a news release.
Along with the contracts announced June 22, D-Orbit won a 26 million euro contract to supply a synthetic aperture radar satellite and manage flight operations. The contract features a 24 million euro option for a second SAR satellite. Italian radar technology company MetaSensing will manufacture the SAR sensor.
In-Orbit Servicing
D-Orbit is a component of a consortium led by Thales Alenia Space that won a 235 million euro Italian Space Agency contract to conduct Italy’s first in-orbit servicing demonstration. Avio, Leonardo and Telespazio are members of the consortium.
“We’re very proud to work alongside corporations of this caliber,” Renato Panesi, D-Orbit co-founder and chief business officer, said in a press release. “And we’re truly looking forward to contributing to this historical milestone for the national space industry.”
The in-orbit servicing mission includes two satellites and related ground infrastructure. The consortium plans to reveal satellite services starting from inspection and repositioning to refueling and on-orbit assembly.
D-Orbit’s ION Satellite Carrier might be the goal satellite for the demonstration mission. Along with managing activities related to the goal satellite, D-Orbit is in command of the refueling system.