SES Partners with K2 Space for Innovative MEO Satellite Deployment

SES, the Luxembourg-based satellite operator, announced on September 16, 2023, plans to deploy a satellite co-developed with the manufacturing startup K2 Space early next year. This initiative signals the beginning of a more iterative approach to enhancing its medium Earth orbit (MEO) broadband constellation, a strategy that SES refers to as “meoSphere.”

The meoSphere concept represents a modular, software-defined network that aims to evolve through shorter innovation cycles instead of traditional large-scale deployments. SES emphasizes that this new approach will maintain both backward and forward compatibility, allowing for the seamless integration of new features without interrupting existing services.

“Our future MEO network will evolve through agile innovation cycles,” said Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES. “By collaborating with K2 Space and other trusted innovative partners, we’re combining our solutions development experience and operational depth with newspace agility to develop a flexible, software-defined network that adapts to customer requirements.”

While SES did not confirm whether it will partner with Boeing for future projects, the aerospace giant is currently constructing the last three of 13 O3b mPower MEO satellites for SES. These satellites are designed to deliver more than ten times the throughput of the operator’s first-generation fleet of 20 MEO satellites. The development of the new MEO satellites will take place across Europe and the United States, where K2 Space is headquartered.

The company’s strategy includes the annual development and deployment of new MEO satellites, aligning investments and scaling of the network with market demand and customer needs. This shift aims to eliminate the high capital expenditure peaks associated with conventional “waterfall” development cycles, providing SES with greater flexibility in satellite deployment.

The upcoming meoSphere satellites are expected to enhance connectivity for various sectors, including real-time aircraft communication and reliable maritime operations. They will also support resilient backhaul for remote enterprise sites. In addition, government partners could utilize sovereign solutions through in-country gateways. SES plans for the constellation to accommodate multi-mission capabilities, such as hosted payloads, space situational awareness, and satellite data relay.

SES has already committed to developing and operating 18 additional MEO satellites under a contract with the European Commission for its IRIS2 multi-orbit broadband network. This collaboration includes working with established suppliers while integrating newer players like K2 Space to further advance the network.

Founded three years ago, K2 Space raised $110 million in Series B funding earlier this year to accelerate the production of its “Mega” class satellite buses. The company claims these buses can be manufactured for under $15 million each, with lead times of less than three months. K2 Space successfully completed its first in-space demonstration mission earlier this year and is also preparing to conduct its first government mission under an agreement with the U.S. Space Force scheduled for early 2026.

In a separate announcement, SES revealed a partnership on September 15 with French optical ground station developer Cailabs. This collaboration aims to test laser communications technology that could facilitate faster and more secure data links for future satellites, further enhancing the capabilities of SES’s broadband network.

As SES embarks on this innovative path, its partnership with K2 Space and other collaborators is poised to redefine how MEO satellite networks are developed, making them more responsive to the evolving needs of customers and the market.