Shape-shifting satellite to usher in a new era of space technology

By Jean-Jacques DeLisle, contributing writer

Scheduled for launch in 2019, the EUTELSAT QUANTUM is a new satellite, designed by Eutelsat and supported by major partners such as the ESA, the U.K. Space Agency, and Airbus, that is going to change the world of satellite technology forever. It is being described as a “shape-shifter,” which sounds like something out of a science-fiction novel, but the term comes from the EUTELSAT QUANTUM’s most interesting and useful feature: its ability to reconfigure its operational characteristics while in orbit. Why is its ability to change configuration such a boon over traditional satellites? Because configurability gives it the unique ability to modulate its coverage, power, frequency, and bandwidth on demand. In traditional satellites, these variables are customized in production and cannot be altered after the satellite is in orbit.

Image: Anaren.

This new advanced satellite is software-controlled, and customers will have the tools to modulate the satellites to fit their needs at the time, something that no other satellite has been able to accomplish previously. This means that no matter where you are or what you are doing, you could be guaranteed the best possible connection to that satellite at that moment. It is like having your own personal satellite at your command. This technology will undoubtedly be used by the private space industry of the future, as well, to eliminate dark spots in communication with space stations of orbiting spacecraft.

The EUTELSAT QUANTUM also features a new beam-hopping and -tracking system, making it even more versatile. The new satellite will be able to use beam-tracking to follow mobile terminals in real time. This means that someone communicating with the satellite from a ship traveling across the ocean would not have to switch between various satellites or bounce signals to maintain a connection. It can literally follow its target and maintain a constant connection.

The EUTELSAT QUANTUM is groundbreaking in many ways and is also set to be the world’s first mass-produced satellite. Its adaptability and range give it an advantage over normal satellites, which are extremely costly and have to be made one at a time and customized to the necessary parameters before launch. Its ability to reconfigure itself after launch allows it to be sent into orbit and then programmed for whatever purpose it is needed for. We can expect to see the EUTELSAT QUANTUM and other similar shape-shifting satellites become indispensable in the near future, opening up new avenues for trade and communication across the globe.