Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS) has tapped MaiaSpace, the up-and-coming French launch provider, to launch a range of SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellites starting in 2029. This is MaiaSpace’s first long-term partnership with a customer from the Asia-Pacific region. It represents a significant milestone for the company. It announced the contract win, Sept. 9.
iQPS is developing and operating its QPS-SAR constellation of satellites. These are small SAR satellites that aim to provide high-resolution imagery that enable the observation of designated targets in all weather conditions, day or night. The company aims to offer a global ‘Near-Real-Time Data Provision Service’ capable of observing target areas almost anywhere in the world at an average interval of 10 minutes, by building a large-scale satellite constellation with 24 satellites by May 2028 and deploying additional satellites by 2030.
iQPS’s most recent launch was a mid-August launch with Rocket Lab that deployed one satellite.
“This contract reflects the competitiveness and versatility of Maia, whose reusable and expendable configurations, combined with the Colibri kick stage, can serve efficiently a wide range of missions – from single satellite launches to constellation deployment and replenishment, across multiple orbits. This modularity supports our ambition to become a leading global player in the LEO launch market, with a target of around 20 launches per year by the early 2030s,” Yohann Leroy, CEO, MaiaSpace, said in a statement.
