GomSpace signs cubesat contract with ESA

GomSpace A/S - a subsidiary of GomSpace Group AB has signed a 400.000 EUR contract with ESA for the first phase of the RACE project to deliver two 6-unit CubeSats for an IOD mission to demonstrate the capability of nano-satellite systems to perform close proximity operations such as rendezvous and docking, and close fly around manoeuvres.

The Rendezvous Autonomous CubeSats Experiment (RACE) Mission has been conceived by ESA to contribute to system concepts such as autonomous on-orbit assembly of large structures (e.g. optical telescopes, RF antennas) from building blocks, and damage inspection/upgrade of cooperative targets (e.g. larger spacecraft).

GomSpace brings a very strong consortium consisting of GMV Poland/Romania together with Almatech and Micos from Switzerland, encompassing all the needed expertise for delivering the spacecrafts including the guidance, navigation and control algorithms, docking mechanisms and relative navigation sensors for the mission.

The first phase of the RACE project will be finalized in Q4 2019.