Sky and Space Global (SAS), the New Space narrowband satellite communications company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), has announced that its Pearl nanosatellite has passed a Critical Design Review (CDR) and is now ready for construction and integration.
The CDR concluded that the design presented by GomSpace to SAS complies with the requirements; assembly and integration will also to be completed by GomSpace.
“We are delighted to have successfully completed the CDR with GomSpace, reaching another milestone and remaining on track for launch next year,” said Meir Moalem, co-founder, managing director and chief executive officer for SAS. “Positive results from the CDR validate our technology, support our strategy, and reaffirm our goal of providing communication technology to remote geographical locations.”
Assembly and integration is scheduled to begin immediately. Once these stages are complete, the Pearl nanosatellites will pass through various other final hardware, software, and technical assessments, as well as testing — including a final acceptance test — before launch.
SAS expects the first batch of Pearl nanosatellites to be completed and tested in time for the scheduled first launch in 2019, with successive launches planned for the following quarters, until the entire constellation of approximately 200 Pearl nanostaellites is in orbit in 2020.
GomSpace’s CDR process assessed all of the nanosatellite’s technical components, including schedule, overall design, altitude control performance, and system budgets (mass, power and link). The process ensures each part is made and functioning at the highest quality and that it meets the required standard to progress to the construction phase.
