An Orbit Guard satellite. Phot: Infinite Orbits

Infinite Orbits and the French Ministry of Defence have signed a framework agreement for a micro surveillance satellite in Geostationary Orbit (GEO) for French Space Command. The Orbit Guard satellite announced Tuesday has a planned launch date of 2027.

The mission has been named Paladin, from the line of Orbit Guard servicing satellites — micro satellites with a mass weight of 100 kilograms. The satellite is designed to offer passive surveillance with space-based space situational awareness (SSA) sensors, and active surveillance with proximity inspection capability. It is designed with an autonomous navigation solution to rendezvous with other satellites in orbit within one kilometer of distance. 

French Minister for the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu said in a post the framework agreement is worth 50 million euros ($58 million). It is part of France’s ARES program – Space Action and Resilience. Lecornu said the satellite will enable French Space Command to “strengthen its GEO surveillance and operational readiness capabilities.”

“In recent years, our team has focused on developing innovative technologies that enable satellites to acquire new capabilities: surveillance, approach, and docking in orbit. We chose to develop these technologies using a Newspace approach, pragmatic and cost-effective, enabling the rapid deployment of our servicers. Today, we are honored that this approach can be used to improve the operational preparation of CDE protecting the GEO belt,” Infinite Orbits CCO Marion Andrieux commented.