D-Orbit signs launch contract with AAC SpaceQuest

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.