On December 1, 2023 at 6:19 PM (UTC), the very first Italian all-electric satellite”MicroHETSatcreated and constructed by SITAEL for the European Space Agency with Italian Space Agency (ASI) assistance, took off from California on board a SpaceX Falcon-9 objective. After commissioning, the satellite is now completely operation.
“There is genuine interest and not just at SITAEL”, reports Marco Molina, Managing Director Sales and Products of the Italian business SITAEL, part of the Angel Group, from its head office in Mola di Bari. “All of the stakeholders have actually followed this first flight with high expectations, and we can now happily report that we are making a crucial turning point in the history of the area economy in Italy and Europe with the first-ever Italian Hall-effect thruster operating in area. We are among the couple of worldwide to do so.” “This success relates to innovation”, continues Molina, “however likewise with entrepreneurship and the long-lasting vision from the personal in addition to institutional sides”.
SITAEL is, in truth, a 100% personal business that is owned by Angel Holding. It was developed as “SITAEL SpA” in 2012 by Cav. Vito Pertosa and is now led by CEO Chiara Pertosa, who is the creator’s child.
With its 250 staff members, it is the biggest area business that is totally owned by an Italian business owner. “The business has actually grown throughout these years with a useful, and we can now state thriving, development of a genuine area economy case”, Molina continues. “There was a research study group at University of Pisa incredibly proficient in plasma physics, at the basis of area electrical propulsion. The resourcefulness of Cav. Pertosa, the business owner, was to imagine a future useful usage of these research studies. This is why a spin-off of University of Pisa was integrated in SITAEL in 2014, fertilized by the commercial state of mind of the Angel Group 1,600 engineers.”
Where are your centers found?
“The electrical propulsion factory remains in Pisa”, Marco Molina describes. “There, we run our vacuum chamber, the biggest in Europe of this kind, for electrical propulsion tests in more than 200 cubic meters of volume kept in cryogenic conditions”.
Which organizations supported this venture?
“First, we had interest from the Italian Space Agency ASI that allowed us to survive the low TRL actions, which are the most tough ones: Death Valley where the majority of the start-ups stop working. The European Space Agency appointed SITAEL, on ASI funds, an In Orbit Demonstration Mission called MicroHETSatWe can now state that having the target of the launch pad offered us with a significant reward to continue towards the objective.”
Inform us more about this satellite and the objective
“The satellite was completely developed and constructed by SITAEL, and we are now running it from the objective control space situated in Forlì, near Bologna, in our regional workplaces: All of the electronic devices originate from our tidy spaces, similarly the photovoltaic panels. The electrical propulsion thruster system, its fluidic control system and the power supply are made by SITAEL. The satellite has actually onboard 4 kg of Xenon for an objective of about 1 year: With mass of less than 75 kg, it is the biggest all-electric microsatellite ever developed and has the ability to climb up for lots of kilometers and show precise orbit keeping. NORAD information are validating that shooting operations are raising the satellite as created, a couple of kilometers each week.”
Where did you put together and certify the MicroHETSat?
Molina describes: “The satellite was integrated in our facilities in Mola di Bari: We have a 1,200 square meter tidy space with a test center for ecological tests. Once again, the synergy in between SITAEL and the general public sector, Regione Puglia, which partially moneyed the structures inaugurated in 2021, has actually allowed us to have the biggest anechoic chamber in Southern Europe for Electro Magnetic Compatibility tests. In summer season 2023 we could, hence, certify the MicroHETSat for the brand-new launcher (Falcon 9) in less than one month, thanks to the complete control of the test centers.”
What’s the MicroHETSat group structure?
“It is a fantastic group: The youngest is 20 years old since we have actually not just purchased facilities, however likewise in personnels with an authentic spirit of inclusivity and valorization of variety. We have actually employed and continue to employ from the very best Italian universities, and we are likewise able to draw in worldwide skills.”
What do you get out of this In Orbit Demonstration?
“We are finding out a lot”, Molina clarifies. “And we are currently executing the lessons gained from MicroHETSat in the other satellites with our electrical propulsion, consisting of the ones for IRIDE constellation that we are supplying to ESA”
Do you prepare to just offer electrical propulsion for little satellites?
Director Molina suggests the method: “We start with little satellites providing electrical propulsion for constellations. We are likewise in an extremely sophisticated phase for high-power electrical propulsion: Our 5 kilowatt thrusters are perfect for orbiting GEO satellites and for flexibly running Space Tugs for In-Orbit Servicing. We run our thrusters with Xenon, Krypton, and Argon. We never ever stop upgrading our abilities.”
What are the next difficulties?
Molina had a look through the big window, dealing with the Adriatic Sea and stated, “We are now doubling our production ability: The electrical propulsion is a widely known problem, by every Space Prime, of technological non-dependence. We are likewise growing in the satellites service; we are a brand-new emerging Prime, capable of offering a turn essential services: the satellite as well as the end-to-end objective, for Telecom and for Earth Observation objectives.”
“We anticipate the need for these items to climb up, and we are currently preparing the next action towards series production. This will imply brand-new factories, individuals, obstacles, and items. Isn’t that what all of us call the area economy?”
This wise business established 12 years earlier is a presentation that when the general public and personal spheres interact with a technological vision and deep valorization of personnels the outcomes come. The journey has actually simply started!