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Astranis has unveiled UtilitySat, a unique multi-mission GEO satellite designed to provide on-demand connectivity for various applications including disaster relief, bridge capacity, and surge requirements. UtilitySat is set to launch alongside four other satellites at the end of this year, with more launches planned for the future.

What sets UtilitySat apart is its ability to conduct multiple, fully-operational, broadband connectivity missions. It can provide connectivity on Ku-, Ka-, and Q/V-bands and has the flexibility to adjust frequencies using the company’s proprietary Software-Defined Radio (SDR). This makes the satellite capable of serving as bridge capacity, an on-orbit spare, or surge capacity to supplement existing broadband services.

One of the key advantages of UtilitySat is its mobility. It can relocate multiple times around the GEO belt during its lifetime. Astranis achieves this through a unique dual-propulsion architecture, combining a chemical monopropellant system and an electric ion thruster.

The development of UtilitySat started nearly two years ago with numerous missions in mind. During natural disasters, terrestrial connectivity can be severely affected over large areas. Astranis aims to address this challenge by providing first responders with reliable ground communication through UtilitySat’s extra capacity. With multiple UtilitySats in orbit, Astranis can quickly bring in additional capacity that is compatible with existing GEO ground terminals.

Initial conversations with customers have shown significant demand for UtilitySat. Customers are interested in leasing the entire satellite’s capacity due to its unique capabilities. They value the ability to have extra capacity readily available for deployment, which differs greatly from traditional GEO satellites. Astranis envisions a future where customers can access additional capacity on-demand, thereby enhancing their existing capacity needs.

While the first UtilitySat mission targets the commercial market, Astranis has also observed substantial interest from government customers. This is particularly relevant for the U.S. Government, which requires the ability to task dedicated satellites to specific Areas of Responsibility (AORs) at a moment’s notice. Surge communications would provide military leaders with increased flexibility and resiliency in a contested environment.

Astranis aims to contribute to the evolution of national security space by introducing smaller, flexible, and maneuverable satellites. This approach mitigates dependencies on a few large satellites in GEO and enhances fleet resiliency. The inclusion of on-board digital signal processing enables the company to adopt a standardized satellite design and achieve more in software rather than relying solely on hardware. UtilitySat utilizes the well-established Astranis MicroGEO platform while incorporating additional frequency bands and software capabilities to optimize spectrum utilization, regardless of the satellite’s position in orbit.

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