Delft, 29th November – ISISPACE, an innovative satellite system integrator and space infrastructure provider offering turn-key solutions for space missions, has successfully launched SpeQtre, a quantum demonstrator mission led by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council’s RAL Space and Singapore’s SpeQtral. The lift-off took place at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California last Friday at 10:18 AM PT (19:18 CET), with SpeQtre deployed less than one hour after lifting off, during this ISILAUNCH52 mission.

With a platform built and designed by ISISPACE, this 12U satellite aims to demonstrate ultra-secure exchange of quantum information from space. RAL Space is overseeing the mission’s space components and delivering the instrument that will beam quantum signals to Earth, whilst SpeQtral is providing the quantum hardware. ISISPACE has supported this mission by supplying its 12U satellite platform, performing satellite, payload and full system integration, and testing. Once the satellite is in orbit, ISISPACE will lead the satellite LEOP (Launch and Early Operations) and In-Orbit Commissioning phases. Additionally, the company provided a 12U QuadPack deployer to support the launch activities.

Within this project, ISISPACE implemented an optimised distribution of the platform subsystems to maximise payload volume and performance and developed lean mechanical and electrical interfaces between platform and payload, which have significantly improved AIT (Assembly, Integration & Testing) activities and software developments.

ISISPACE will carry out the early operations and commissioning and will thereafter continue to support with payload commissioning and operations, which includes proof of concept by an optical ground station at the Chilbolton Observatory in Hampshire and at the Centre for Quantum Technologies at the National University of Singapore.

Andy Vick, Disruptive Technology Lead at RAL Space and UK Principal Investigator for SpeQtre, said: “SpeQtre is an excellent example of international collaboration driving innovation. With RAL Space’s agile mission facility in the UK overseeing components and developing critical instrumentation, Singapore’s SpeQtral providing cutting-edge quantum hardware, and ISISPACE providing the satellite platform from the Netherlands, our teams have come together to successfully prepare the mission for launch. We’re now looking forward to the start of our quantum experiments in space.”

Jeroen Rotteveel, CEO and co-founder of ISISPACE, states: “We are proud to have contributed to demonstrating quantum information exchange from space. By leveraging the combined engineering strengths of ISISPACE, RAL Space, and SpeQtral, this collaboration paves the way for the next generation of quantum satellites. This mission demonstrates how small satellites can advance secure, cost-effective communication technologies for business, healthcare, and government.”

Other highlights of the ISILAUNCH52 launch campaign

For another mission on board this launch, ISISPACE proudly supplied Blue Skies Space with the next generation of its advanced ADCS system, flying on board Mauve, its first satellite, providing the attitude, determination, and control system for high-accuracy pointing. Building on an extensive flight heritage in Earth observation and signal intelligence missions, the ISISPACE ADCS performance is enhanced with the addition of a high-performance Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS) gyroscope, for improved rotation rate knowledge, and a double star tracker configuration, for improved pointing determination and availability, to meet the pointing accuracy challenges of this mission.

Philip Windred, Chief Operating Officer at Blue Skies Space, highlighted: “Mauve will be accelerating science by providing data to scientists to enable discovery about the behaviour of stars. The high-accuracy ADCS from ISISPACE is playing a critical role, enabling the satellite to be locked onto a single target star, enabling observations of how the light emitted varies with time.”

Last but certainly not least, a total of nine QuadPacks were built for Planet Labs PBC to accommodate 36 SuperDove satellites for the Flock-4H mission. Additionally, ISISPACE integrated 40 satellites in 12 QuadPacks for the ISILAUNCH52 mission. With these launches, ISISPACE has now supported the deployment of over 800 satellites through its rideshare launch services, setting a new launch aggregator record, which again confirms its position in the market as a highly reliable launch provider with an extensive heritage.