Australian-listed satellite company Sky and Space Global has successfully launched its 3 Diamonds nano-satellites in the first stage of the launch of a full constellation of 200 nano-satellites in the equatorial orbit by 2020.
With the 3 Diamonds launch complete, they will embark on an eight-week journey of In-Orbit Tests (IOT) to validate full functionality and performance of all subsystems including communications payload.
Following this, the pilot constellation will go live and will be in a position to commence revenue generation for Sky and Space Global.
The 3 Diamonds were launched on the ISRO’s PSLV from its launch site at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.
{loadposition peter}The ISRO is the space agency of the Government of India and was formed in 1969, superseding the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) established in 1962.
Sky and Space Global (ASX:SAS) CEO, Meir Moalem, says Sky and Space Global’s vision to provide affordable communication services to those who are currently underserved across the equatorial belt.
“We are delighted that the launch has gone according to plan and we will now begin the next phase, which is In-Orbit testing. This marks the start of an exciting new era for SAS and for satellite technology and we now expect to be revenue generating within a few months.
“We look forward to continuing to work towards delivering a full constellation of up to 200 nano-satellites in orbit in order to achieve full coverage of the equatorial belt by 2020.”
According to Moalem, with its sophisticated nano-satellite technology and satellite network management software, Sky and Space is poised to disrupt the telecoms industry by delivering affordable satellite communications services in remote locations.
Moalem said Sky and Space Global has already pre-sold its nano-satellite communications bandwidth, having secured commercial contracts through its first wholesale operator, Sat-Space Africa and Globalsat Group, in Latin America.
And he says the 3 Diamonds launch is expected to have a big impact on the company commercially, generating profit and helping to secure new commercial agreements.