Arianespace has signed a launch service contract with Synspective for the launch of the satellite StriX-α (with a liftoff mass of approximately 150 kg.) into a Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) in 2020.
This will be the inaugural mission for a Synspective customer spacecraft on an Arianespace vehicle. The launch will take place from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana using a Vega launcher.
Synspective is a Japanese startup company that will establish a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation of about 25 satellites and provide geospatial solutions. Gathering broad and high frequency monitoring data with its satellite constellation, Synspective aims to enable companies and governments to achieve their goal for sustainable development and resilient urban development through visualization and prediction of economic activity, monitoring of terrain and structure and immediate understanding of disaster situations.
In addition to the launch service contract, Synspective and Arianespace signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement to study a future cooperation.
Following the contract signature, Motoyuki Arai, Founder and CEO of Synspective, said that this is a momentous stepping stone for the constellation which will bring innovation for data-driven business and sustainable development. The company is also excited about the joint study to mutually enhance both firms' business and technical strength.
Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace, added that the company is delighted to welcome Synspective as a new customer, enhancing the firm's relationship with Japan and, once again, proving the relevance of the firm's launch services offering for Earth Observation (EO) satellites. With Vega in 2020 and through a more global partnership, Arianespace is looking forward to contributing to the deployment of the Synspective constellation, which puts innovation in space at the service of a better life on Earth.
