Alba Orbital Announces Successful Integration of Malaysia's First PocketQube Satellite
SpaceIn’s ‘SpaceANT-D’ launch will serve as a demonstration mission for an Iot services constellation
Glasgow, UK – July 11th, 2023 – Alba Orbital, the leading provider of PocketQube satellite launch services, today announced the successful integration of Malaysia's first PocketQube satellite, SpaceANT-D, in preparation for Alba’s sixth launch campaign on SpaceX's Transporter-9 mission in Q4 2023.
SpaceANT-D is a 1p PocketQube built and designed by SpaceIn, a spin-off company of Universiti Sains Malaysia specializing in satellite IoT services.
PocketQubes are a new class of small satellites that are even smaller and more affordable than CubeSats. They measure at just 5x5x5 cm and weigh under 250g, making them the smallest class of commercial satellites. Due to their small size, these tiny satellites can be launched into orbit for as low as 25K Euros.
The name ‘SpaceANT-D’ is a reference to both the satellite’s tiny size and it’s great capability. It stands for “Space Advance Network Technology Demonstrator”, and is the 1st spacecraft of it’s kind from Malaysia. This satellite is developed in collaboration with School of Aerospace Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia and Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitters' Society (MARTS).
The satellites primary mission is to store and forward sensor data using LoRa technology for IoT monitoring systems in Southeast Asia. The launch in Q4 2023 is set to be a technology demonstration of this concept, with SpaceIn planning to launch an constellation (or ‘colony’) of SpaceANTS in the near future.
"We are thrilled to announce the successful integration of Malaysia’s first PocketQube," said Tom Walkinshaw, CEO of Alba Orbital. "This is a significant milestone for SpaceIn and the wider space community in Asia, and we are proud to be a part of it. We look forward to launching SpaceANT-D on SpaceX's Transporter-9 mission in October, and we are confident that it will be a success."
"We are excited to see SpaceANT-D launch to orbit and demonstrate the capabilities of our new technologies," said Dr Norilmi Ismail, CEO of SpaceIn. "This is a major step forward for Malaysia's space industry, and we are grateful to Alba Orbital for their support."
SpaceANT-D is scheduled to launch on SpaceX's Transporter-9 mission in October 2023. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin for updates!
Contact us today at contact@albaorbital.com to learn more about our rideshare services and how we can help you launch your own satellite into orbit 🚀
ABOUT ALBA ORBITAL
Alba Orbital (UK, USA, Germany) is the world’s leading PocketQube company that has launched 31 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.
For more information, visit www.albaorbital.com or get in touch at contact@albaorbital.com.
ABOUT SPACEIN SDN BHD
SpaceIn Sdn Bhd is a spin-off company of Universiti Sains Malaysia, specializing in small satellite manufacturing and satellite IoT services. With a commitment to innovation and sustainability, SpaceIn aims to revolutionize various industries by harnessing the power of satellite technology.
For more information, visit https://spacein.com.my/ or get in touch at maya@spacein.com.my