Swiss company Astrocast has optimised its satellite constellation to increase service quality and reliability.

Following the launch of a batch of four satellites in November 2022, the company efficiently commissioned and manoeuvred them in a record time. This improves reliability, and average latency in Astrocast’s service.

The company commissioned them and began computing and executing the necessary manoeuvres to re-phase them with the correct angular separation to increase service performance.

Thanks to the computed and performed manoeuvres, the satellites can now be put into service and will be in their final orbital slot by the end of May. This complete control of the constellation enables the company to enhance the service and increase the satellite lifetime with increased propellant usage optimisation.

“The increased number of satellites in our constellation brings more redundancy for the Astrocast service, improving reliability, service passes per day and average latency,” said Federico Belloni, CTO of Astrocast. “In addition, the company’s in-house expertise ensures the successful operation of the constellation.”

The optimisation of the satellite constellation demonstrates the company’s satellite technology maturity, including fabrication, operation, and constellation design and maintenance. The company has complete control of its satellites in orbit, enabling it to optimise the service. In addition, the satellites are monitored and manoeuvred if required to ensure no collision events occur, thanks to Astrocast’s collaboration with Okapi Orbits.

Astrocast operates a global nanosatellite IoT network, offering services in industries such as agriculture and livestock, maritime, environment, and utilities. The network enables companies to monitor, track and communicate with remote assets from anywhere in the world. It relies on L-band spectrum through an alliance with Thuraya.

In partnership with Airbus, CEA, Leti and ESA, Astrocast developed Astronode S, a low-power and miniaturised module compatible with inexpensive L-band patch antennas.

Founded in 2014, Astrocast develops and tests all its products in-house, from the satellites to the modules.

• The Swiss Polar Institute has selected Astrocast to develop a resource-optimised satellite communication system for remote snow, glacier and permafrost monitoring stations in central Asia. This project aims to address challenges associated with acquiring a continuous time series of correctly measured environmental parameters over a long time, with consistent quality, particularly at remote high-latitude and high-altitude field sites.

This project, which was initiated and driven by the University of Fribourg in Switzerland will apply satellite communication technology developed by Astrocast to these remote monitoring stations. In doing this, Astrocast will work closely with SensAlpin, Davos, a company that designs, builds, and operates specialised equipment for environmental monitoring.

The technology deployed will be optimised for minimal resource use, for example low power consumption, and aims to reduce the prohibitive costs associated with existing satellite communication services. Once developed, the system will first be tested in the Swiss Alps, before being implemented on a recently drilled permafrost borehole in the Akshiirak region in Kyrgyzstan.