The contract covers the launch and deployment of FUTURA-SM1 and FUTURA-SM3, a 3U and a 6U CubeSats respectively, which will be integrated into NPC Spacemind's proprietary CubeSat dispensers. The dispensers will be installed inside ION Satellite Carrier, a versatile orbital transfer vehicle designed, manufactured, and operated by D- Orbit, for in-orbit validation.
"We are thrilled to join forces with NPC Spacemind for a wholly Italian partnership," said Renato Panesi, D-Orbit's Chief Commercial Officer. "Spacemind's excellence in manufacturing space structures will further improve our ability to provide custom dispensers to fit even the most unusual mission configurations."
After successful validation, D-Orbit will offer NPC Spacemind's dispenser as an additional option to customize ION's flight configuration and further broaden the company's launch options.
"It is a privilege to work with D-Orbit, reference point of the space logistics and orbital transportation services, with which we share the attention for space environmental sustainability since the early beginnings", said Niccolo Bellini, NPC Spacemind's Production and Program Manager. "We are excited about this cooperation by virtue of enhancing the supply chain of the Italian space economy."
ION Satellite Carrier is a multi-purpose vehicle capable of carrying out within a single mission satellite transportation, payload hosting, and advanced in-orbit edge computing services.
NPC Spacemind's satellites are scheduled for flight in Q4 2022 onboard ION SCV008.
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