Interstellar Communication Holdings Signs Agreement with Alba Orbital & Hydra Space to Launch icMercury Satellite via SpaceX
The pocket-sized satellite known as a ‘Pocketqube’ will hitch a ride to orbit in q1 2025
Image of SpaceX Falcon-9 launch vehicle taking off. This mission marked Alba Orbital’s fifth orbital launch campaign (Credit: SpaceX)
Glasgow, UK, Aug. 22, 2024 -- Interstellar Communication Holdings Inc. (the “Company” or “Interstellar Communication”), a holding company that connects and consolidates space-related companies, today announced that it has signed a rideshare agreement with Alba Orbital, a global leader in PocketQube launch services, to launch its first icMercury PocketQube HADES-ICM via SpaceX in Q1 2025.
PocketQubes represent a revolutionary advancement in satellite technology, offering a compact and cost-effective solution for space research and exploration. Despite their small size of 5 cm x 5 cm x 5 cm per unit (‘P’), PocketQubes retain impressive capabilities, making them ideal for a wide range of scientific, commercial, and educational applications. By leveraging these compact satellites, organizations can access space more affordably and efficiently than ever before.
Image of a 1.5P PocketQube designed by Hydra Space (HADES-D), launching with Alba Orbital on a separate mission, pictured next to a steel rule for scale.
HADES-ICM, a 1.5p PocketQube satellite manufactured by Hydra Space Systems, is scheduled to launch with Alba Orbital aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle in Q1 2025. This announcement marks a significant milestone for Interstellar Communication as it prepares to demonstrate the icMercury service from space for the first time. With this mission, icMercury will showcase what users can access through the icMercury App via personal satellite service in the future.
"The Alba Orbital team is excited to welcome icMercury as our new rideshare customer," said Tom Walkinshaw, Founder and CEO of Alba Orbital. "This collaboration is a great example of how we’re enabling more innovative projects to reach orbit and creating new opportunities for exploration and discovery."
HADES-D PocketQube during integration at Alba Orbital’s facility in Glasgow, UK.
“In partnership with Alba Orbital, icMercury's upcoming satellite launch via SpaceX represents a pivotal step toward making space more accessible and eco-friendly,” said Lijie Zhu, Chair of Interstellar Communication Holdings. “As your personal messenger to space, icMercury connects people to the wonders of the cosmos.”
"We're delighted to contribute to this mission by supporting the HADES-ICM platform," shared Pablo Durban, CEO of Hydra Space Systems. "By facilitating cost-effective in-orbit demonstrations via PocketQubes, we're driving innovation in space technology and fostering synergy within the industry."
Alba Orbital is the leading provider of PocketQube satellite rideshare services, having delivered 41 satellites to orbit to date with launch partners such as SpaceX and Rocket Lab.
With a focus accessibility and reliability, Alba Orbital empowers organisations worldwide to realise their space exploration goals. If you would like to launch your own space based missions, get in touch at contact@albaorbital.com or fill in our contact form.
About Alba Orbital
Alba Orbital (UK, USA, Germany) is the world’s leading PocketQube company that has delivered 41 pico-satellites on-orbit to date. Alba is a vertically integrated NewSpace company ‘democratising access to space’, providing turnkey solutions from advanced pico-satellite platforms, low-cost launch opportunities, and ground station services. Alba has worked with over 30 customers across three continents, including prestigious clients such as Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University and TU Delft.
For more information visit www.albaorbital.com / Contact: Caius Reza, caius.reza@albaorbital.com.
About Interstellar Communication Holdings Inc.
Interstellar Communication Holdings, Inc., a Florida-registered company, is a holding company that connects and consolidates space-related companies, enabling entrepreneurs and investors to tap into the vast potential of the universe. Interstellar Communication Holdings intends to provide an affordable personal satellite service named icMercury for stargazers, using Pocketqube technology and a customized user platform. With this service, users will be able to access their satellite and unlock the potential of the universe.
For more information, please visit www.icmercury.com / Contact: info@icmercury.com
About Hydra Space
Hydra Space is a space and communications company based in Madrid, Spain. Our capabilities integrate all the space & communications value chain, having already launched several satellites. Through our technology we provide efficient and optimized Satellite IoT Communications to sectors like precision agriculture, infrastructure management and environment and ocean monitoring. By providing low-cost and scalable solutions we enable companies and public agencies to deploy their own, dedicated and customized, space infrastructure for asset monitoring worldwide.
Our solutions and capabilities also open the doors to Affordable Access to Space, helping research agencies, universities and corporations implement space-based innovation initiatives and new business models.
For more information visit www.hydra-space.com / Contact: contacto@hydra-space.com