The industrial core team formed from OHB System AG (Prime Contractor), LuxSpace S.a.r.L., Swedish Space Corporation and Oerlikon Space AG have started the subsystems and units procurement phase.
All companies from ESA Member States and Associate Member States, even if they are not currently subscribing to the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) 11 programme element, have the opportunity to bid.
The process is initiated in accordance with ESA procurement rules and in compliance with the ESA Code of Best Practices. This process ensures open and fair procurement competition.
Potential bidders are invited to register in ESA’s EMITS.EE (EMITS for External Entities) to receive notification of up-to-date Invitation to Tenders. All bidders' proposals shall include a Letter of Intent, in line with the relevant ITT cover letters’ request. The Letter of Intent shall be issued by the respective national delegation to support the bid in the ARTES 11 programme framework.
Elements that will be procured via an open competition are included on the "Buy" items list as given below. The “Status” indicates which items are still open for bids:
Major "BUY" Items:
| Sub-systems | Items |
Status |
| Power Sub-system: | Batteries Solar arrays Power Control Unit [PCU] |
Closed Closed Closed |
| Chemical Propulsion Sub-system (CPPS): |
Apogee Propulsion system | Closed |
| OBDH [On-Board Data Handling]: |
Satellite Management Unit [SMU] | Closed |
| AOCS: | Star Trackers Sun Sensors Gyroscopes Reaction Wheels |
Closed Closed Closed Closed |
| Electrical Propulsion Sub-system: | Electrical Propulsion Thrusters assembly (EPTA) Propellant Supply Assembly (PSA) Cold Gas Thrusters Assembly (CGTA) Xenon Tank Assembly (XTA) |
Closed Closed Closed Closed |
| Thermal Control Sub-system: | Heat Pipes Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) Optical Solar reflectors (OSR) |
Closed Open Open |
| TT&R sub-system: | Hemispherical Antennas Ku Horns Ka Horn TM transmitter TC receiver |
Open Open Open Open Open |
| Mechanisms Control Electronic: | Drive Control Unit [DCU] | Open |
Other sub-systems or elements of sub-systems will be produced directly through the prime contractor or another core team member. The list of "make" items is shown below:
Major "MAKE" Items:
- On-Board Software
- AOCS software
- Solar Array Deployment Mechanism (SADM)
- Mechanisms (Antenna Hold down & release Mechanisms, Antenna Mechanisms electronics, Antenna Module Hold down & release Mechanisms)
- Power Management Unit (PMU)
- RF Suitcase
- Antenna Module Service
- Harness
- Ground Items ( MGSE & EGSE elements)
For more information on Small GEO, EMITS.EE or ESA's Code of Best Practices, click under related links at the top-right of this page.
