Space Missions

Space missions

Your mission, our design

AAC Clyde Space’s EPIC spacecraft platforms combine decades of heritage from our widely used CubeSat subsystems. Leveraging AAC Clyde Space’s 100% success rate in delivering CubeSat missions, the EPIC spacecraft standard delivers industry-leading performance minimising the time and cost to get orbit. AAC Clyde Space has five production facilities: Delft (Netherlands), Fairfax (Virginia, US), Glasgow (UK), Gothenburg and Uppsala (Sweden).

OUR EPIC SATELLITES

EPIC LINK

  • Designed for communications

  • Available with customer supplied payload, with the option of Xiphos SDR

  • High power to meet your mission requirements

  • Low-noise design

  • Premium platform with unparalleled flight heritage

  • Rapidly manufactured flight ready satellite

  • EPIC-SAFE for reliable, secure data transmission

  • Resilient command and data handling

  • Compatible with de-orbit regulations

  • Compatible with main launch vehicles

  • Quality assured

EPIC VIEW

  • Available with Simera Sense xScape100

  • Fast downlink to meet your data needs

  • High-precision, high-accuracy ADCS

  • Premium platform with unparalleled flight heritage

  • Rapidly manufactured, flight-ready satellite

  • EPIC-SAFE for reliable, secure data transmission

  • Resilient command and data handling

  • Compatible with de-orbit regulations

  • Compatible with main launch vehicles

  • Quality assured

Space missions enquiry

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Name*
DD slash MM slash YYYY
Please provide as much detail about your mission as possible including information about your payload

Additional Services

As well as offering a complete, ready for flight, integrated spacecraft solution, AAC Clyde Space also provide several added-value services, enabling a full end-to-end solution. This includes mission analysis that may be required to meet your objectives as well as regulatory aspects such as frequency filing. Working closely with a number of launch space providers, our spacecraft are designed to be compatible with rail-based CubeSat deployers and as such all main launchers. To ensure a successful mission, AAC Clyde Space also provide an operations service, covering both commissioning and nominal operations. As AAC Clyde Space are located in 5 countries, spread over 3 continents, we are uniquely placed to provide skills and experience required to make your mission a success.

PAYLOADS

In addition to the payloads available within each spacecraft, we can design or find the best payload to…

LAUNCH SERVICE

AAC Clyde Space provide a comprehensive launch and early operations service that takes care of all logistical…

OPERATIONS & DATA DELIVERY

Through our own ground station network and agreements with multiple ground network operators, we are…

OUR CUSTOMERS

We have developed expertise in the delivery of multiple space missions with bespoke requirements ranging from IoT to quantum technologies.

Eutelsat

Eutelsat

As part of Eutelsat’s ELO project, we are delivering two 6U CubeSats, for launch in 2021, which will enter commercial service as soon as they are delivered into orbit. The payloads for the spacecraft, built around a sophisticated Software Defined Radio, were developed in-house. These satellites will host the first propulsion systems onboard AAC Clyde Space satellites, enabling in-orbit manoeuvres. If proven successful, Eutelsat plans to expand the mission into a full commercial constellation of 25 satellites dedicated to IoT services.

See the case study

Orbital Micro Systems (OMS)

Orbital Micro Systems (OMS)

We’re delivering a 6U satellite as well as associated services such as launch and commissioning to OMS. This follows the in-orbit success of IOD-1 GEMS, a 3U satellite, produced by AAC Clyde Space carrying a payload from OMS, in a demonstration mission financed by the UK Satellite Applications Catapult. The 6U satellite will be included in the company’s commercial GEMS programme that will deliver accurate and timely weather information to businesses worldwide, helping to meet the needs of users in aviation, insurance, agriculture, commodities and several other industries.

See the case study

Horizon Technologies

Horizon Technologies

We’re delivering a full turnkey solution to Horizon Space Technologies, including two satellite launches, operations and data delivery. The satellites will become part of Horizon Space Technologies’ Amber™ constellation, which is dedicated to delivering Maritime Domain Awareness intelligence data. The mission provides a commercial service and may be extended to include more than 10 additional Amber™ CubeSats. The mission is a follow-on order from the Satellite Applications Catapult IOD programme (IOD-3 AMBER), for which AAC Clyde Space will also deliver a 6U CubeSat to the International Space Station in 2021, from where it will be deployed into orbit.

Eutelsat

As part of Eutelsat’s ELO project, we are delivering two 6U CubeSats, for launch in 2021, which will enter commercial service as soon as they are delivered into orbit. The payloads for the spacecraft, built around a sophisticated Software Defined Radio, were developed in-house. These satellites will host the first propulsion systems onboard AAC Clyde Space satellites, enabling in-orbit manoeuvres. If proven successful, Eutelsat plans to expand the mission into a full commercial constellation of 25 satellites dedicated to IoT services.

See the case study

Orbital Micro Systems (OMS)

We’re delivering a 6U satellite as well as associated services such as launch and commissioning to OMS. This follows the in-orbit success of IOD-1 GEMS, a 3U satellite, produced by AAC Clyde Space carrying a payload from OMS, in a demonstration mission financed by the UK Satellite Applications Catapult. The 6U satellite will be included in the company’s commercial GEMS programme that will deliver accurate and timely weather information to businesses worldwide, helping to meet the needs of users in aviation, insurance, agriculture, commodities and several other industries.

See the case study

Horizon Technologies

We’re delivering a full turnkey solution to Horizon Space Technologies, including two satellite launches, operations and data delivery. The satellites will become part of Horizon Space Technologies’ Amber™ constellation, which is dedicated to delivering Maritime Domain Awareness intelligence data. The mission provides a commercial service and may be extended to include more than 10 additional Amber™ CubeSats. The mission is a follow-on order from the Satellite Applications Catapult IOD programme (IOD-3 AMBER), for which AAC Clyde Space will also deliver a 6U CubeSat to the International Space Station in 2021, from where it will be deployed into orbit.

Saab & Orbcomm (VDES)

Saab & Orbcomm (VDES)

AAC Clyde Space, Saab AB and ORBCOMM Inc are collaborating on the next generation of space-based VHF Data Exchange System (VDES), marking the beginning of a new era in maritime communications. We’re building, launching and commissioning the first satellite in the project, and it is expected to be followed by a large constellation of satellites that will form a new part of the maritime communication infrastructure. The satellite will carry a VDES payload from Saab for two-way communication between satellite and the Earth’s surface. ORBCOMM will integrate the data in its distribution centre for maritime communications.

See the case study

NSLComm

NSLComm

We’re delivering a full end-to-end mission for our partner NSLComm, from manufacturing, customer payload integration, launching, commissioning and operating the satellite to delivering a ground segment software solution. The spacecraft will demonstrate highly disruptive technology providing Ka-band communications from space. This ground-breaking dish-shaped antenna, which deploys itself once in space, is set to inspire a wide array of new IoT applications within the industry. AAC Clyde Space delivered a 6U satellite, NSLSat-1, to NSLComm in 2019. The new satellite, NSLSat-2, is the first satellite of an intended commercial constellation. NSLComm has also appointed AAC Clyde Space as “preferred supplier” in its planned satellite constellation.

See the case study

SeaHawk

SeaHawk

AAC Clyde Space are part of the Sustained Ocean Color Observations using Nanosatellites project, a collaboration currently in progress between the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Cloudland Instruments and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre, to design, manufacture, launch and operate SeaHawk-1, a 3U CubeSat with HawkEye Ocean Color Sensors. The aim of the project is to observe the changing biology of the ocean surface. Seahawk was launched in 2018 and is operated from AAC Clyde Space’s Glasgow Operations Centre, with instrument data downloaded to NASA Wallops facility, through the satellite’s X-band downlink. The data is integrated into NASA’s SeaWiFS Data Analysis System and distributed worldwide by the NASA Ocean Biology Distributed Active Archive Center. The data gathered by SeaHawk will enable greater understanding of the marine food chain, oceanic climate, fisheries and pollution phenomena. This information will be vital to our ability to monitor and support the health and sustainability of our oceans.

See the case study

Saab & Orbcomm (VDES)

AAC Clyde Space, Saab AB and ORBCOMM Inc are collaborating on the next generation of space-based VHF Data Exchange System (VDES), marking the beginning of a new era in maritime communications. We’re building, launching and commissioning the first satellite in the project, and it is expected to be followed by a large constellation of satellites that will form a new part of the maritime communication infrastructure. The satellite will carry a VDES payload from Saab for two-way communication between satellite and the Earth’s surface. ORBCOMM will integrate the data in its distribution centre for maritime communications.

See the case study

NSLComm

We’re delivering a full end-to-end mission for our partner NSLComm, from manufacturing, customer payload integration, launching, commissioning and operating the satellite to delivering a ground segment software solution. The spacecraft will demonstrate highly disruptive technology providing Ka-band communications from space. This ground-breaking dish-shaped antenna, which deploys itself once in space, is set to inspire a wide array of new IoT applications within the industry. AAC Clyde Space delivered a 6U satellite, NSLSat-1, to NSLComm in 2019. The new satellite, NSLSat-2, is the first satellite of an intended commercial constellation. NSLComm has also appointed AAC Clyde Space as “preferred supplier” in its planned satellite constellation.

See the case study

SeaHawk

AAC Clyde Space are part of the Sustained Ocean Color Observations using Nanosatellites project, a collaboration currently in progress between the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Cloudland Instruments and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre, to design, manufacture, launch and operate SeaHawk-1, a 3U CubeSat with HawkEye Ocean Color Sensors. The aim of the project is to observe the changing biology of the ocean surface. Seahawk was launched in 2018 and is operated from AAC Clyde Space’s Glasgow Operations Centre, with instrument data downloaded to NASA Wallops facility, through the satellite’s X-band downlink. The data is integrated into NASA’s SeaWiFS Data Analysis System and distributed worldwide by the NASA Ocean Biology Distributed Active Archive Center. The data gathered by SeaHawk will enable greater understanding of the marine food chain, oceanic climate, fisheries and pollution phenomena. This information will be vital to our ability to monitor and support the health and sustainability of our oceans.

See the case study

PICASSO

PICASSO

AAC Clyde Space delivered a 3U scientific CubeSat, PICASSO (Pico-Satellite for Atmospheric and Space Science Observations), an earth observation demonstration mission for the European Space Agency. PICASSO is monitoring sunlight filtered through the Earth’s atmosphere to check the health of our ozone layer and map ozone concentration profiles. Science missions such as PICASSO monitor in real time and send data back to Earth for analysis, making a vital contribution to our understanding of the ozone layer and ultimately to its preservation.

MRIC

MRIC

AAC Clyde Space delivered Mauritius’s first satellite, MIR-SAT-1, to the Mauritius Research & Innovation Council (MRIC) in June 2021. The satellite was launched and subsequently deployed into space from the International Space Station. The MRIC intends to use MIR-Sat-1 to build knowledge on satellite technology and on how to efficiently collect and process land and ocean data from space. This project is an important step in helping Mauritius to establish its own space infrastructure to tackle issues of national priority identified by its government.

KP labs

KP labs

AAC Clyde Space has been selected by KP Labs to deliver a 6U satellite for the mission Intuition-1. This mission for KP Labs and the Polish FP Space Consortium is a perfect example of ground-breaking applications that are being enabled by highly capable, very small satellites. The main payload, which is an advanced hyperspectral imager, will demonstrate next-generation imaging technology from space. The mission aims to offer the first satellite with processing capability to segment hyperspectral images in orbit. Traditionally used in the mining industry, hyperspectral imaging is increasingly being used in a variety of applications and KP Labs envisage future use for its technology in applications ranging from agriculture, forestry and mining to environmental protection and defence.

PICASSO

AAC Clyde Space delivered a 3U scientific CubeSat, PICASSO (Pico-Satellite for Atmospheric and Space Science Observations), an earth observation demonstration mission for the European Space Agency. PICASSO is monitoring sunlight filtered through the Earth’s atmosphere to check the health of our ozone layer and map ozone concentration profiles. Science missions such as PICASSO monitor in real time and send data back to Earth for analysis, making a vital contribution to our understanding of the ozone layer and ultimately to its preservation.

MRIC

AAC Clyde Space delivered Mauritius’s first satellite, MIR-SAT-1, to the Mauritius Research & Innovation Council (MRIC) in June 2021. The satellite was launched and subsequently deployed into space from the International Space Station. The MRIC intends to use MIR-Sat-1 to build knowledge on satellite technology and on how to efficiently collect and process land and ocean data from space. This project is an important step in helping Mauritius to establish its own space infrastructure to tackle issues of national priority identified by its government.

KP labs

AAC Clyde Space has been selected by KP Labs to deliver a 6U satellite for the mission Intuition-1. This mission for KP Labs and the Polish FP Space Consortium is a perfect example of ground-breaking applications that are being enabled by highly capable, very small satellites. The main payload, which is an advanced hyperspectral imager, will demonstrate next-generation imaging technology from space. The mission aims to offer the first satellite with processing capability to segment hyperspectral images in orbit. Traditionally used in the mining industry, hyperspectral imaging is increasingly being used in a variety of applications and KP Labs envisage future use for its technology in applications ranging from agriculture, forestry and mining to environmental protection and defence.

Space missions enquiry

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
DD slash MM slash YYYY
Please provide as much detail about your mission as possible including information about your payload

PATH TO CONSTELLATION DELIVERY

Many MEO or LEO satellites are needed to maintain continuous coverage over an area, a constellation of satellites can talk to, or keep an eye on, the same places on Earth at all times. The coverage area provided by a single satellite only covers a small area that moves as the satellite travels at the velocity needed to maintain its orbit. A web, or constellation, of satellites around the planet can provide access to many corners of the world, creating global or near-global coverage and connectivity. They are connected to globally distributed ground stations, and even via inter-satellite communication, and can enable communications in unserved and underserved communities, enhance global monitoring and observation to greatly reducing the time needed to obtain science and technology results. The need to utilise and access space infrastructure in a timely and cost-effective manner, without the need or desire to understand it, is increasing. With shorter development times, risk distribution spread over multiple spacecraft, the benefits of lower latency to the reduction in economic space barriers for all types of companies and countries, the adaptability and flexibility offered by a CubeSats constellation is enormous.

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