‘The stuff of science fiction’ Pioneering UK-designed satellite ready for assembly

“We are delighted to co-operate with our long-standing partners, the ESA, the UK Space Agency and Airbus, and to be able to rely on the world-leading expertise within the UK space industry.”

Colin Paynter, Managing Director, Airbus Defence and Space UK, said: “Combining the payload expertise from Airbus in Portsmouth, and SSTL’s new geostationary platform provides a very sophisticated package for Eutelsat. The satellite is a world first, fully reprogrammable in orbit, and we’re looking forward to seeing it fly.

Magali Vaissiere, ESA Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications, added: “Eutelsat Quantum is an important programme for both the UK and ESA and a typical example of the success of the ARTES public-private partnership model.”

Britain is a world-leader in the field of satellite communications, with 25 percent of the world’s telecommunications satellites built here.