SpaceX’s Launches Ovzon-3, Sweden’s First Privately Funded GEO Satellite
SpaceX launches the Ovzon-3 satellite in a Falcon 9 mission on Jan. 3, 2024. Photo: SpaceX
SpaceX launched the Ovzon 3 satellite for Swedish satellite operator Ovzon on Wednesday evening, after many delays. Ovzon 3 is the first privately funded and developed Swedish Geostationary Orbit (GEO) communications satellite, and it will support Ovzon’s satcom-as-a-service solutions.
SpaceX launched the satellite on Jan. 3 in a Falcon 9 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida that lifted off at 6:04 p.m. ET. Ovzon confirmed the launch was successful and said Ovzon 3 the satellite will enter service by mid-year.
Designed by Maxar Space Systems, the satellite faced numerous delays, pushing it from a 2022 launch, to late 2023 and finally to the early 2024 launch date. It was originally set to launch with Arianespace, but switched to SpaceX because of manufacturing delays.
“The close teamwork with our partners Maxar and SpaceX has, despite delays and unfortunate circumstances in the wake of the pandemic, come to fruition, and we are grateful to all the people working relentlessly together to design, build, finalize, and launch the satellite in the last couple of years,” commented Ovzon CEO Per Norén. “As always when working in space, many risks still remain before the satellite has entered into service. I would also like to express my gratitude to our long-term shareholders who have supported us in every step of this journey.”
Ovzon 3 is Maxar’s first use of the company’s new all electric modular architecture platform (MAP), which allows for parallel processing of separate modules to improve production efficiencies. It is also Maxar Space Systems’ first flight of Roll-Out Solar Arrays (ROSAs).
It is the first proprietary satellite for Swedish satcom company Ovzon, which invested in its own satellite as it is rolling out satcom-as-a-service capabilities. Ovzon 3 is equipped with five independent, powerful steerable spot beams to dynamically deliver capacity, and Ovzon’s proprietary on-board processor.
CEO Norén spoke with Via Satellite in 2022, saying the satellite will “revolutionize” the company’s satcom-as-a-service offering and allow service for new generations of small, mobile satellite terminals.