Integrated NEMO-HD Satellite in SFL Clean Room. Photo: University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies

The Slovenian Center of Excellence for Space Sciences and Technologies (SPACE-SI) chose Arianespace to launch its NEMO-HD microsatellite. It will be launched on the Vega launch vehicle, as part of the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) Proof of Concept (POC) flight in 2019.

NEMO-HD is an Earth monitoring microsatellite, which aims to provide real-time imaging and video streaming over Slovenia and other regions. In addition, the spacecraft is designed for remote observation. The satellite will be operated by SPACE-SI, and was developed in collaboration with the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies – Space Flight Laboratory (UTIAS – SFL).

Vega’s POC flight will be the first mission for SSMS — a program initiated by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2016 with the contribution of the European Commission. For all European partners involved, its purpose is to perfectly address the burgeoning microsatellite market for both institutional and commercial needs with a new rideshare concept on the Vega