
IRIS² Introduction
Last Monday, as Aerospace Valley member, advalup participated to a conference concerning IRIS², the strategic European Satellite Constellation.by Mr DIRIS, Interministerial Coordinnator for France on IRIS² and GovSatCom. This conference was organized in B612 building under Aerospace Valley authority. It was alos a nice opportunity for meeting all loacle space actors from start-up, SME and LSI.
IRIS² means “Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite“
Context and Program Actors
Space services are essential in our daily lives and contribute directly to the economic development of European countries by ensuring their security.
IRIS² has public funding (EU & ESA) and private funding with a 12-year service concession contract. The industrial consortium is composed of three major telecommuncation operators (SES, Eutelsat & Hispasat: SpaceRISE consortium) and all manufacturers (Airbus, Thales Alenia Space, OHB, Telespazio, Thales, Deutsche Telecom, Orange & HisdeSAT).
SpaceRise consortium activities and responsabilities:
Eutelsat is the Prime for System Development with Design Authority, system engineering and Industrial Architecture Office
SES is Lead Member assuring interface betwee EU & ESA, shedule and cost control, procurement
Hispasat is service provision prime assuring services and operations.
Cutting-edge technologies will ensure significant communication performance, thus benefiting the defense and security of Europe. by maintaining continuity of services, security of infrastructures and resources shared between member states.
IRIS² is an issue of economic and industrial sovereignty for Europe and very important strategic for the European future.
IRIS² architecture
3 constellations are scheduled: LEO-H with 264 operating satellites at 1200 km, 18 MEO satellites at 8000 km and Low LEO with 10 to 15 satellites at 800 km. All launchers would be Ariane 6 but some discussion are on-going concerning the launch cost improvement. The Low LEO definition is completely opened in terme of number of satellite, mass (from 150kg to 500kg to 800 kg, but dedicated for Newspace actors.
The contract was signed between private consortium SpaceRISE and EU & ESA the 16th of December 2024.
Technologies
5G reprogrammable satellites on-board
Service continuity between Earth and Space Operations
3 used frequencies: Ka, Ku and military Ku
Last semicon technology used as for smartphone.
2 telecom payload per satellite: one for commercial use and one for governmental one
Objective to develop low cost commercial terminale
Control Centers
3 in Europe France (LEO), Italy (Govsatcom) Luxemburg (MEO)
2 others for Govsatcom: Germany and Greece.