Alba Orbital crosses 50th satellite launch mark via SpaceX
Alba Orbital prepares FIVE Pocket-sized satellites from 3 Countries for upcoming SpaceX Transporter-13 Mission IN THE COMING MONTHS
Glasgow, UK (3rd March 2025) - Alba Orbital is set to embark on its 9th orbital mission campaign, integrating five PocketQube satellites from three different countries in preparation for their flight on-board SpaceX’s Transporter-13 Rideshare mission. Scheduled to lift off on a Falcon 9 rocket this March, this sold-out flight underscores Alba Orbital’s continued leadership in providing accessible space solutions. This flight will grow Alba’s number of launched satellites to 53.
The satellites were integrated into Alba Orbital’s PocketQube Deployer, ‘AlbaPod’, at their new facilities in Hillington Industrial Estate, Glasgow, the world’s first PocketQube factory. After integration, the cluster of pocket-sized satellites were shipped out to SpaceX before hitching a ride to Low Earth Orbit.
PocketQubes are highly miniaturised satellites, typically 5 cm cubed per unit (‘P’), that can be launched to orbit for as little as 25K Euro via Alba Orbital’s rideshare services. PocketQubes offer numerous advantages over traditional satellites. They are cost-effective, quicker to build, and provide versatile options for a variety of missions ranging from educational projects to advanced technological demonstrations.
“Flight 9 is a huge achievement by the whole team here at Alba Orbital” said Tom Walkinshaw, CEO of Alba Orbital. “Alba has now launched more satellites into space than the country of Brazil, this flight we will cross the 50 satellite marker, and launch our 18th and 19th Albapod deployer.”
Payloads on Alba Orbital’s upcoming Mission Campaign
Here’s a closer look at the PocketQube satellites manifested to fly on Alba Orbital’s 9th launch campaign:
HADES-ICM - HYDRA SPACE / IC MERCURY / SMART IR
1.5p, Carries an open voice transponder for the radio amateur community. It will be operated by the non-proft organization AMSAT-EA
- Includes UK based Smart IR (https://www.smartir.co.uk/) second, graphene based technology, experiment in orbit
- Also includes icMercury, Interstellar Communication Holdings Inc (https://icmercury.com/ ) inspiring space sustainability text messages, that will be broadcasted periodically by HADES-ICM
HYDRA-W - HYDRA SPACE
Returning customer Hydra Space are developing an IOT network utilising their 1.5p PocketQube platform. Hydra-W will add to this growing constellation.
- Includes an in-orbit experiment from UC3M - Universidad Carlos III (Spain) implemented by Terahertz Research group and IoT connectivity experiment by Hydra Space
UNICORN-2O, 2P & 2Q - ALBA ORBITAL
Three 3p PocketQubes imaging satellites for Alba night time earth observation constellation to image earth in daytime and night time. These are the 15th, 16th and 17th Unicorn-2 satellites to launch into orbit.
Alba Orbital is the leading provider of PocketQube satellite rideshare services, having delivered 48 satellites to orbit to date with launch partners such as SpaceX and Rocket Lab. With a focus on accessibility and reliability, Alba Orbital empowers organizations worldwide to realize their space exploration goals. If you would like to launch your own space based missions, get in touch at contact@albaorbital.com or press the ‘Get in touch’ button below.
ABOUT ALBA ORBITAL
Alba Orbital (UK, USA, Germany) is the world’s leading PocketQube company that has delivered 48 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 40 customers across four continents, including prestigious clients such as Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University and TU Delft.
Press contact: Frazer Donoghue Business Team, Frazer@albaorbital.com