The QinetiQ P200 satellite platform. Photo: QinetiQ

QinetiQ has won a new contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) to deliver and operate a new satellite that will support technological innovation, de-risking, and concept testing for public agencies and commercial enterprises in Europe. The company announced the award July 7.

This award is part of the EU Horizon 2020 in-orbit demonstration/validation (IOD/IOV) initiative, which aims to provide organizations with new opportunities to capitalize on affordable access to space. The new satellite will feature the latest generation of QinetiQ’s PROBA platform. The P200 platform has been developed to provide flexibility, which the company says is demonstrated by previous PROBA missions carrying up to 28 payloads. It is compatible with a wide range of launch rockets and has simple electrical interfaces, standard protocols, and optional specifications for a diverse array of payloads. Up to 13 different IOD/IOV experiments will be on-board this new satellite.

“We’re delighted to be working on such an important mission for so many organizations at the cutting edge of space technology. The new satellite funded by the European Union will play a catalytic role in helping to bring exciting and significant new innovations to market and maximizing European progress and competitiveness in the burgeoning space sector,” Frank Preud’homme, business development director of QinetiQ’s space business, said in a statement.