
Independent access to space is a key component of the European Space Policy. As competition increases both for full launch systems and key subsystems, cost-effectiveness becomes a main driving factor.
SpaceTec Partners serves a variety of private and public institutions, pragmatically applying consulting techniques primarily in the space domain. With institutional clients such as the European Commission, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European GNSS Agency (GSA), as well as with leading space industry players and various SMEs and start-ups, SpaceTec has helped to develop several effective policy and strategy recommendations in several domains.
With over 10 years of operations in Europe, SpaceTec has amassed a wealth of industry expertise as well as technical knowledge. What sets SpaceTec apart is the mastery of the ‘hypotheses-driven methodology’ combined with strong space industry expertise as well as extensive technical knowledge. SpaceTec’s study philosophy and approach is data-driven and leverages facts to validate key assumptions, hypotheses and recommendations to its clients.
In essence, SpaceTec Partners provides with concise, effective and relevant solutions to problems faced by institutions in the space industry.
Examples of key services and capabilities include:
Independent access to space is a key component of the European Space Policy. As competition increases both for full launch systems and key subsystems, cost-effectiveness becomes a main driving factor.
Together with a major European launch provider, SpaceTec Partners analysed the most likely market opportunities and target addressable and accessible markets for potential new micro-launchers tackling the small (<= 500 kg mass) satellites market with a special focus on under 200 kg mass classes.
Nowadays, small satellite operators have two solutions to launch their spacecraft: fly piggyback with a larger satellite or share a ride with other small satellites. Both launch options however require a significant logistical effort, high cost and usually require a big compromise on choosing the right launch date.
Several signal augmentation techniques such as Real Time Kinematic (RTK), Precise Point Positioning (PPP) and hybrid variations (e.g. PPP-RTK) enable real-time high accuracy positioning using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Previously limited to specific applications such as surveying and agriculture, the ability to broadcast PPP correction data globally over satellite and/or the internet has opened the door to large-scale, mass market applications of highly accurate GNSS, with the development of PPP-RTK expected to further improve the convergence time of PPP.
SpaceTec and its consortium partners conducted a study on the potential impacts of changing the Copernicus free and open data policy.
SpaceTec Partners undertook a review PPP and RTK to determine their suitability to mass-market applications.
The challenges induced by space debris are addressed through the Clean Space Initiative, introduced in 2012 to cover sustainability over the entire lifecycle of space activity.
The study “State of the art of GNSS receivers for CubeSats” evaluated the CubeSat GNSS receiver market, and forecasted their penetration on board CubeSats.
SpaceTec Partners supported Business Finland, the Finnish public funding agency, by preparing an information package and market study on the German New Space market.
SpaceTec Partners evaluated different LPWANs for combined usage with GNSS and investigated novel power efficient PNT estimation techniques.