Supporting policy public practices - Satellite platforms
From INVESaTWIKI
Satellite platforms
ESOA’s Board recently underlined the requirement of the satellite operators to see a range of
platforms available for procurement from European suppliers. Up to now, it would appear that a larger
range of platform sizes ‘off-the-shelf’ has been available from US manufacturers than from European
industry. European industry could be in a better position to engage in delivering timely, cost-effective
solutions, by means of market oriented developments.
ESOA consequently believes that assurance of the industrial capability to assure availability of
components for platforms and payloads relevant to small, medium sized and large satellites should be
a priority in European Space Policy, giving attention also to reliability and equipment industrialisation
aspects. The policy of industry to reuse certain equipment developed for scientific missions in building
telecommunications satellites should not create overcomplexity in design with a consequent potential
impact on reliability and suitability for our satellite missions.
We want to stress therefore that there is a need in our view to ensure a degree of European support to
maintaining a viable reliable modern range of satellite delivery capabilities capitalising upon an
industrial approach for standard equipments, and this does not necessarily require just the development
of advanced technological solutions to enable us (or industry) to meet the expectations of its
customers.
Concerning the commercialisation of satellite multimedia applications ESOA would like to encourage
the exploration and development of more possibilities to deliver such services ranging from costeffective
modestly sized satellites or ‘piggy-back’ payload solutions in the shorter-term to large
dedicated platforms in the longer-term. [1]
References
[1] European Satellite Operators Association
"ESOA General Comments on the European Space Policy and Research and Development Policy in the field of Satellite Telecommunications".
