Avanti clinches ESA satellite

16 December 2013

Avanti has signed a contract with the European Space Agency to take ownership of a satellite currently in orbit called ARTEMIS. Avanti says it succeeded in a competition against multiple bidders in which ESA's key decision factors included the promotion of innovation and competition in Europe. Avanti will pay nothing upfront and will assume modest operational costs which it expects will be offset by new revenues from the project.

Avanti will take ownership of the ARTEMIS satellite from 1 January. ARTEMIS is a highly sophisticated satellite which offers some unique communications services. It can communicate with other satellites in space as well as users on the ground. It is located at 21.5° East enabling excellent coverage of Europe, Africa and the Middle East to be achieved. It has fuel to allow continued operation to at least the end of 2016 and still have sufficient reserves for safe de-orbiting at end of life.