Satellite production European Record Number of Satellites Launched Into Space

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Nine small satellites built in Würzburg are setting a European record while demonstrating industrial satellite production, cooperative mission capabilities, and innovative Earth observation technologies.

Nine small satellites for Earth observation from Würzburg (Germany) were launched into space on 7 July. Never before have so many satellites manufactured in Europe by a single producer been launched simultaneously in two multi satellite missions. This demonstrates strategically important capabilities for the industrial serial production of satellites. All nine satellites are in excellent health.

Following an inspiring opening address by BMFTR Minister Bär, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted the nine satellites from Würzburg (Germany) into space from California on 7 July at 9:10 am. These tiny satellites, each about the size of a shoebox, work together to carry out innovative Earth observation tasks across three different missions. This marks the first time in Europe that such a record number of satellites has been realised for different Earth observation applications. The missions are intended to provide important information for agriculture, forestry, disaster relief, and surveying more quickly and across larger areas. 

These small satellites, each with a mass of less than 10 kg (approx. 22 lb), were all built and extensively tested in Würzburg (Germany) by the independent research institution Centre for Telematics (ZfT) in cooperation with the start up Smart Small Satellite Systems GmbH (S4). Contact with all nine Würzburg satellites was established earlier than expected, and all are operating perfectly. The ground stations established stable communications just one hour after deployment, and the planned complex commissioning activities began. 

“The transition from individually handcrafted, complex, large satellites to future markets based on industrially manufactured, numerous, simpler yet cooperating small satellites is still in its infancy in Europe—despite ambitious plans. This achievement marks important progress in establishing these strategically important technologies here as well,” said ZfT Executive Board member Prof. Dr. Klaus Schilling.

Scientific benefits for everyday life

The shared objective of the nine satellites is to generate benefits for everyday life through scientifically innovative approaches.

The Bavarian satellite network for remote sensing and biomonitoring, CuBy, consisting of five satellites, is designed to detect forest damage at an early stage while also collecting important information for flood disaster relief and surveying. Bavarian Minister of Finance and Regional Identity Albert Füracker highlighted the benefits for Bavaria: “For the Bavarian Surveying Administration, which is responsible for this pioneering project, and for Bavaria as a whole, this is a strong signal for our modern technology location. For the first time, we can photograph Bavaria from space and provide images with an accuracy of approximately five metres (approx. 16.4 ft). From image acquisition in space to the use of the data by public authorities, industry, and research, everything remains in Bavarian hands.”

The three TOM satellites observe the same target area from different directions in order to generate three dimensional imagery. This provides valuable additional information to support disaster response operations. Through international cooperation, ground stations on five continents are contributed by Bavarian partner regions to ensure that satellite data can be relayed efficiently and without delay.

The satellite team is completed by a precursor satellite for ten future CloudCT satellites designed to improve climate forecasting. It is funded through one of the European Research Council's top research awards, bringing together three researchers from very different disciplines. The concept uses computed tomography, similar to that used in medicine, with ten cooperating satellites to analyse the internal composition of clouds and thereby improve climate predictions.

Innovative self organisation technologies

All nine satellites employ innovative control technologies for satellite self organisation. They coordinate with one another in order to accomplish their tasks in the most effective way. This builds on the experience gained from ZfT's NetSat mission, which successfully operated four satellites in 2020. The project is preparing the way for more efficient operation of the next generation of global satellite networks. “Innovative control technologies for satellite self organisation are being applied here, opening enormous application potential in many other fields,” explained S4 Chief Technology Officer Oliver Ruf.

Completing and testing nine satellites in parallel requires capabilities that are being scientifically investigated in the ZfT Small Satellite Research Factory and made available to industry. The focus is on advanced production technologies that will enable the European space industry to compete with the United States and China in developing future satellite networks for autonomous driving, secure communications, continuous Earth observation, and navigation.

More than 20 years ago, UWE 1 (University of Würzburg Experimental Satellite) became the first operational European pico satellite. Its engineering models are now exhibited at the German Museum in Munich and the Hermann Oberth Museum in Feucht (Germany). This first student satellite has since given rise to an entire regional space ecosystem consisting of aerospace degree programmes, research institutes, and start up companies that provide future oriented jobs in Würzburg (Germany).