The EAGLE-1 satellite, which will support the end-to-end, secure, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system for Europe, will be launched for SES by Arianespace on a Vega C rocket from French Guiana as early as Q4 2024.
The satellite will be placed into LEO. The EAGLE-1 project, comprising satellite and ground infrastructure, is developed by SES and the company’s consortium of 20 European partners, with support from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission.
Under the recently-signed agreement with ESA, SES and its partners will design, develop, launch and operate a satellite-based, end-to-end, QKD system for the purpose of testing and validating space-based, secure transmission of cryptographic keys. The first European, sovereign, space-based QKD system will include the dedicated LEO EAGLE-1 satellite and a state-of-the-art QKD operations center in Luxembourg. In the scope of EuroQCI (European Quantum Communication Infrastructure), the EAGLE-1 satellite will enable early access, validation, and integration of space-based QKD for EU Member States.
Following the launch, the EAGLE-1 satellite will complete three years of on-orbit mission supported by the European Commission. During this operational phase, the satellite will allow European Union governments and institutions, as well as critical business sectors, early access to long-distance QKD that would path the way toward an EU constellation enabling ultra-secure data transmissions.
The EAGLE-1 project is co-funded by the ESA contribution of Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and the Czech Republic under ARTES, as well as the European Commission, through Horizon Europe.
Vega C, the new European light launcher, successfully passed its inaugural flight on July 13th and now enters its operational phase under the responsibility of Arianespace. With this contract, Vega C backlog includes more than 40 satellites contracts.
Vega C development program has been managed by ESA with 12 Member States of the Agency. Avio Spa (Colleferro, Italy) is the industrial prime of the Vega launch system. Vega C has been upgraded with more powerful first and second stage Solid Rocket Motors and with a larger fairing, which significantly increases payload mass and double allowable volume as compared to Vega.
The launcher also better meets the specific needs of small spacecraft, thanks to its improved SSMS dispenser and to its AVUM+ that allows seven re-ignitions instead of five. Vega C can deliver to three different separation orbits for its multiple payloads within the same mission, instead of the two previously possible with Vega.
“Building the EAGLE-1 end-to-end system for secure data transmission and validating the long-distance Quantum Key Distribution technology is an innovative project that will benefit the EU Member States,” said Ruy Pinto, Chief Technology Officer at SES. “We have been working with Arianespace for decades to deliver our satellites into space and are delighted for them to be onboard to launch the EAGLE-1 satellite into orbit.”
“We are delighted and honored by this renewed mark of confidence from the leading global content connectivity service provider SES,” said Marino Fragnito, director of Arianespace’s Vega business unit. “Over the last 38 years, we have carried out 42 launches for our longstanding partner, and Vega C will now continue this successful track record. It is a great honor for us to support our customer ambitions and to be part of this mission that aims at implementing Europe’s satellite-enabled cybersecurity technology.”