Tejal Somvanshi
On September 16, 2024, Airbus announced a substantial contract with MDA Space Ltd. to supply over 200 Sparkwing solar arrays for MDA's AURORA™ software-defined satellite product line.
Photo Source: Google
This deal marks a significant development in the rapidly expanding global space industry. Telesat's Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, Lightspeed, is the anchor customer for this supply chain arrangement.
Sparkwing, the world's first commercially available, off-the-shelf solar array for small satellites, was initially optimized for LEO missions.
It offers over 30 panel dimensions, configurable into wings with one to three panels each.
Beyond power generation, Sparkwing provides high stiffness and minimal integration effort, with low demands on spacecraft sidewall tolerances.
Despite the optimism, the satellite industry faces hurdles. This rapid growth raises concerns about orbital congestion and space debris.
A 2023 ESA report indicates that only 20% of satellites are successfully deorbited at end-of-life.
The Airbus-MDA Space collaboration underscores the dynamic nature of the satellite industry. As we witness this cosmic dance of technology and commerce, one thing is clear: the sky is no longer the limit.
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