Deimos Joins GEORyder Consortium Which Develops Reusable Orbital Transfer Vehicle for Geostationary Orbits
Deimos, an Indra company, has joined the GEORyder consortium. GeoRyder is led by Infinite Orbits, a NewSpace in orbit services company focused on GEO orbit, and supported by the EU under the Horizon Grant. As part of this arrangement, Deimos will add the control module for proximity operations and its standardised attitude orbit control subsystem “READY-200” to the GEORyder project.
GEORyder aims to design a reusable Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) that will provide cost-effective, sustainable, and reliable access to geostationary orbits (GEO) for small satellites. It intends to transform the European space landscape, which suffers logistical challenges that constrain smallsat access to GEO.
Providing reliable and affordable means of GEO access for smallsats operators, GEORyder requires less CAPEX than direct GEO launches and avoids significant delays in deployment. Its target is the satellite servicing and relocation markets, which has seen an immense growth in recent years.
READY-200 is highly configurable and particularly suited for Earth Observation missions. Deimos developed the system in collaboration with ESA. It can easily and quickly support new operational modes and hardware configurations. This simplifies development of the mission and reduces overall development costs. The AOCS leverages extensive past development, adapting the hardware to survive in the GEO radiation environment and providing new operational modes.
The consortium consists of eight European companies from seven countries including Arianespace, Dawn Aerospace, Berlin Space Tech, Politecnico di Milano, Skylabs, and Space Applications Services.
“The GEORyder OTV will be a game-changer capable to disrupt space transportation and enhance Europe’s position in sustainable space solutions,” said Simone Centuori, CEO of Deimos. “Our AOCS product is highly innovative, in both its provision of very high pointing stability and its agility. Joining this project proves, yet again, our extensive capabilities for advanced solutions for the small satellites sector.”
GEORyder’s planned capabilities include transferring small satellites of up to 150kg from geotransfer orbit (GTO) to GEO, while also providing in-orbit servicing. Its estimated travel time is under three weeks, saving extra costs, fuel expenses, radiation in the Van Allen belts, and eliminating the need for self-orbit-raising.
After the initial release of a customer satellite, it is projected that the OTV will be able to get refuelled and travel back to GTO to dock with the next customer. The successful completion of the preliminary design review marks a significant milestone in the development of the OTV, and brings this innovative system another step closer to operational reality.
With integrated refueling capabilities and a green chemical propulsion system compliant with the EU’s REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulations, the vehicle supports the EU’s Green Deal objectives for a carbon-neutral economy.
Adel Haddoud, CEO & co-founder of Infinite Orbits, said: “GEORyder responds to the urgent need for efficient OTVs compatible with current GEO needs. It will allow operators to rely on smaller satellites in GEO with a compatible launch solution.
“The combination of our vision-based rendezvous solution and a refuellable servicer will enable cost-effective in-orbit services, enhancing affordable access to GEO.”