N3O and OHB Sweden sign partnership for two Atlantic Constellation VHR satellites

Milan, Italy, 16 October 2024: OHB Sweden and N3O signed a partnership contract today at the IAC - International Astronautical Congress, in Milan, covering the development, assembly, verification and testing for two Atlantic Constellation VHR satellites.

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The agreement signed today between N3O (Portugal’s first satellite integrator) and OHB Sweden (a company with 30 years of experience in the development and implementation of complete space systems) marks another strong step towards the materialisation of the Atlantic Constellation, that will address markets in land management, critical infrastructure, agriculture, sustainability, innovation as well as security and defence.

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The two satellites will be jointly developed by teams from N3O and OHB Sweden, relying on InnoSat, the generic satellite platform product from OHB Sweden, with already three satellites successfully operating in space (GMS-T, MATS, Arctic Weather Satellite) and four satellites in development (GARAI-A/B, EIS, ADIS).

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While N3O is responsible for the development and implementation of the entire space segment of the Atlantic Constellation, OHB Sweden is responsible for providing the baseline design of the two VHR satellite platforms, and support services to N3O’s team. The assembly, integration, and testing of the two satellites will take place at the N3O’s premises at the facilities of its main shareholder in Portugal (i.e. CEiiA), with the support from the OHB Sweden team.

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The two VHR Satellites (employing InnoSats #8 and #9) will embark a state-of-the-art very high-resolution optical payload and will provide relevant optical images in the visible and near infrared spectrum with a spatial resolution better than 50 cm per pixel with the high reliability and high performance requested by GEOSAT, the Portuguese Earth Observation satellite operator.

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Fredrik Sjöberg, Deputy Managing Director at OHB Sweden: “We are very pleased with the trust established between N3O and OHB Sweden in order to develop together the two VHR Satellites of the Atlantic Constellation. The satellites will support decision makers on highly relevant matters like security, environment, marine, land, and emergency with very short response time. Also, the great and recognised competencies of OHB Sweden in satellite's Attitude and Orbit Control Subsystem as well as Propulsion will best serve the purpose of this optical VHR mission.”

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André Oliveira, CEO of N3O: “We are enthusiastic to have OHB Sweden as a partner for the development of our first two Atlantic Constellation VHR satellites. Their expertise will be an important element for the delivery of these first satellites on time and with the required performance. This cooperation provides great perspectives for the future of Portuguese space industry and for strengthening N3O as Portugal’s first satellite integrator, but also in its affirmation in the European market”.

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The contract signed today is an important step in the implementation of the programme NEW SPACE PORTUGAL, a consortium which has the mission to accelerate the Portuguese space industry during the next decade. The consortium is led by GEOSAT and includes CEiiA, one of the key players in the Portuguese space ecosystem, both of which are shareholders in N3O.

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This partnership between N3O and OHB Sweden fulfils another of NEW SPACE PORTUGAL'S goals: to develop the capability in Portugal to build very high-resolution EO satellites from A to Z, but also attracting talent to the country.

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