SWISSto12 SA is a privately owned Swiss aerospace company that manufactures Radiofrequency (RF) products and systems as well as geostationary telecommunications satellites. The company is headquartered in Renens, Switzerland and was founded in 2011 by Chief Executive Officer Dr. Emile de Rijk.

SWISSto12 SA
SWISSto12
Company typePrivate
IndustryAerospace
Founded2011; 13 years ago (2011)
Founders
  • Emile de Rijk
Headquarters,
Switzerland
ProductsRadiofrequency products & Telecommunication satellites
Websitewww.swissto12.ch

SWISSto12 develops RF products and satellites using the company’s patented 3D-printing technologies and associated Radio-Frequency product designs.[1] The product includes waveguides, filters and antennae, with more than 1000 components currently operating in space.[1]

SWISSto12 was recognised as one of the “2024 hottest companies in satellite”[2] as well as being nominated by the World Economic Forum as a “2024 Technology Pioneer”.[3]

HummingSat

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With a size just over one cubic metre in volume and approx. 1000 kg in weight, which is one-tenth the size and one-fifth of the weight of conventional satellites placed in geostationary orbit some 36,000 kilometres above Earth.[1][4]

ESA and SWISSto12 signed a contract to develop a Small GEO Satellite to stream data or broadcast television. The Small GEO Satellite will be up to one-tenth the size of conventional geostationary satellites, measuring approximately one cubic metre.[5][6]

Milestones

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In 2019 SWISSto12 launched its first antenna products into space.[7]

In March 2022, SWISSto12 signed a partnership contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the development of the HummingSat Product line.[8]

Later in 2022, Intelsat announced that SWISSto12 will produce the Intelsat 45 satellite based on its innovative HummingSat product line.[9]

In 2023 ViaSat+Inmarsat announced that SWISSto12 was contracted to develop and build three satellites under the Inmarsat 8 (I-8) program. The three I-8 satellites will provide additional network resilience, securing the future of Inmarsat’s global L-band safety services.[10][11][12]

Later in 2023, SWISSto12 announced that it collaborates with Thales for the development of Active Electronically Steerable Antennas (AESAs) for Satcom-on-the-move market, with a focus on airborne, land and maritime vehicles.[13]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c "SWISSto12 and PROFEN Announce Strategic Partnership to Bring Industry-leading Satellite Connectivity Solutions to Turkey's Aerospace Market". satcom.digital. 2023-03-03.
  2. ^ "The 10 Hottest Satellite Companies in 2024". interactive.satellitetoday.com. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
  3. ^ "Meet the 2024 Technology Pioneers of the World Economic Forum".
  4. ^ Selding, Peter B. de (2024-03-25). "Swissto12: Our HummingSat and other small-GEOs can rejuventate the GEO market". Space Intel Report.
  5. ^ "EPFL spin-off SWISSto12 leads ESA micro-geostationary satellite project". S-GE. 2024-05-29.
  6. ^ Rainbow, Jason (20 March 2024). "Swissto12 expanding small GEO satellite production facilities". SpaceNews.
  7. ^ "Executive Spotlight". www.satmagazine.com.
  8. ^ "Micro-geostationary satellite enters design phase". www.esa.int. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Inmarsat Intelsat Chooses SWISSto12 to Build Intelsat 45". intelsat.com. 2022-07-22.
  10. ^ "SWISSto12's I-8 satellites from the HummingSat program are chosen by Inmarsat to support its L-band network". www.venturelab.swiss.
  11. ^ "Arianespace to launch Intelsat small GEO satellite". spacenews.com. 2023-09-12.
  12. ^ "Inmarsat selects SWISSto12's HummingSat for I-8 satellites to power L-Band network". intelsat.com. 2023-05-23.
  13. ^ "SWISSto12 and Thales sign a first contract to develop and supply new Solid-State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs)". www.thalesgroup.com. 2023-01-31.