Paris & Toulouse, France, 13 January 2025 āĀ Expleo has been selected by Infinite Orbits ā a Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) services specialist ā to develop the radio frequency sensor for its Orbit Guard #3 mission, the in-orbit inspection of the geostationary passivated target, the Eumetsat METEOSAT-8 satellite.
The inspection mission fulfilled by Orbit Guard #3 was awarded to Infinite Orbits and its partner Telespazio France by CNES and funded through the āFrance 2030ā stimulus plan. The inspection of the inactive METEOSAT-8 weather satellite will take place 600km above GEO and will be conducted using onboard optical and radio frequency sensors to identify and confirm the satelliteās status. With the number of satellites in space growing by 20% year-on-year according to the Satellite Industry Association1, this mission will provide insight and lessons for the maintenance of satellites post-launch, across their lifecycles.
Expleo will provide its proven expertise in radio frequency engineering and onboard electronics to design, manufacture, test and validate the satellite payload to Infinite Orbitsā specifications. The assembly, integration and testing (AIT) will be conducted from Expleoās state-of-the-art clean room ahead of deployment on Infinite Orbitsā satellite, scheduled for launch in 2026.Ā
FrĆ©dĆ©rique Rebout , Director of International Alliances and Partnerships – Defence & Space, Expleo, said:āExpleo has long-standing expertise in production planning and management for the space industry. This contract reflects Expleo’s position as a trusted partner for innovators in the NewSpace sector, designing and producing custom payloads from our dedicated cleanroom facilities. Weāre delighted to sign this deal with Infinite Orbits to ensure that its project is completed on time, to the highest quality standards and under the safest conditions.āĀ
Marion Andrieux, CCO at Infinite Orbits commented: āThe France 2030 plan has enabled projects like Orbit Guard #3 which are expanding the scope and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space. Weāre pleased to collaborate with Expleo on this strategic project which will further the possibilities of in-orbit services that will help the sustained growth of the global space industry.ā
This project is funded by the French government in the frame of the France 2030 boost plan.
