Astrocast and D-Orbit Sign New InOrbit Now Launch Service Agreement

By D-Orbit | 30 October 2019

astrocast_d-orbit-new-inorbit-launch

Ten Astrocast nanosatellites to be launched in low inclination orbit on Arianespace Vega or Vega C

FIRST QUARTER OF 2022

October 30th, 2019: Astrocast and D-Orbit announced today the signing of an agreement for the launch and deployment in LEO low inclination orbit of ten Astrocast nanosatellites through D-Orbit ‘s InOrbit NOW Launch Service. The agreement calls for the Astrocast nanosatellites to be launched onboard an Arianespace Vega or Vega C vehicle from Kourou, French Guyana, in the first quarter of 2022.

This batch of nanosatellites will make up the Astrocast IoT Nanonsatellite Network’s equatorial plane. The Astrocast constellation will consist of eight orbital planes, each consisting of eight operational and two spare satellites. The complete 80-unit Low Earth Orbit network will provide cost-effective two-way communications for the millions of IoT devices in remote areas of the world. Astrocast’s constellation is expected to disrupt numerous enterprises, creating substantial efficiencies and cost advantages within key global sectors including maritime, oil and gas, mining, supply chain and logistics, automotive, utilities, and many others.

During the planned Astrocast mission, the ten nanosatellites will travel inside the DCube dispensers, designed by D-Orbit to reduce vibration and shock levels during launch.

“Reliable access to space is critical for Astrocast as we move quickly to deploy our constellation. We feel D-Orbit is a critical partner in our efforts and we are very excited to further our commitment to working together,”

said Kjell Karlsen, CFO, Astrocast.

“We are honored to contribute to the expansion of Astrocast’s infrastructure in low inclination orbits. This contract expands previous agreements with Astrocast and strengthens the cooperation between the two companies. We feel honored by Astrocast’s renewed trust in our company and it’s a privilege for D-Orbit to contribute to such an important mission”.


commented Renato Panesi, D-Orbit COO.

— D-Orbit

D-Orbit is a New Space company with solutions covering the entire lifecycle of a space mission, including mission analysis and design, engineering, manufacturing, integration, testing, launch, and end-of-life decommissioning.

The company’s competitive advantage is the versatility of its launch and deployment services that can be tailored to the customer’s needs, from the launch procurement of a single spacecraft using standard deployment strategies to the precise deployment of a full constellation with ION Satellite Carrier, a CubeSat dispenser developed and operated by D-Orbit.

Committed to pursuing business models that are profitable, friendly for the environment, and socially beneficial, D-Orbit is the first certified B-Corp space company in the world.

Headquartered in Como, Italy, D-Orbit has subsidiaries in Lisbon, Portugal, London, UK, and Washington DC, USA.

— Astrocast