Eutelsat Quantum, the world’s first commercial fully re-programmable satellite, took off on Friday on board an Ariane 5 rocket

Eutelsat Quantum, the world’s first commercial fully re-programmable satellite took off from French Guiana on Friday on board an Ariane 5 rocket, with the expectation of another period of more adaptable communications. The European Space Agency (ESA) posted from its official handle a photograph of the Eutelsat Quantum satellite taking off and said that it is the “first commercial fully flexible software-defined satellite in the world”.

The European Space Agency will on Friday launch the world’s first commercial fully re-programmable satellite, making it ready for a new period of more adaptable communications. The world’s first commercial fully re-programmable satellite took off from French Guiana on Friday on board an Ariane 5 rocket, introducing another time of more adaptable interchanges.

The satellite was set in orbit some 36 minutes after the launch.

Not at all like conventional models that are planned and “hard-wired” on Earth and can’t be repurposed once in orbit, the Eutelsat Quantum depends on so-called software-defined technology that permits clients to tailor the communications to their needs—almost in real-time.

“Eutelsat Quantum, developed under an ESA partnership project with satellite operator Eutelsat and prime manufacturer Airbus, is the first commercial fully flexible software-defined satellite in the world,” the space agency said in an official release. “Because it can be reprogrammed in orbit, it can respond to changing demands for data transmission and secure communications during its 15-year lifetime. Its beams can be redirected to move in almost real-time to provide information to passengers onboard moving ships or planes.”

What is a fully re-programmable satellite?

Dissimilar to conventional models that are planned and “hard-wired” on Earth and can’t be repurposed once in orbit, the Eutelsat Quantum permits clients to tailor the communications to their requirements – almost in real-time.

Since it tends to be reprogrammed while orbiting in a fixed position 35,000 kilometers (22,000 miles) above the Earth, the Quantum can react to changing demands for information transmission and secure communications during its 15-year lifetime, as per the European Space Agency.

Eutelsat Quantum: 8 communication beams to provide mobile coverage

The 3.5-ton Quantum model has eight communications beams, every one of which can be adjusted to change its area of coverage and the force of the telecommunications signal it emits.

Using software made accessible to the client, these progressions can be made “in a matter of minutes”, as per Eutelsat.

This implies the satellite can be used to give mobile coverage for moving objects like aircraft or oceangoing vessels or to give coverage after a natural disaster or for one-off events.

Satellite to monitor ‘malicious intent’

Also, during a period of developing worry over digital security – as well as the conceivable weaponizing of space – Quantum can pinpoint the origin of signals radiated with or without malicious intent and take action to remedy the interference.

The Quantum will cover a huge geographical region from West Africa to Asia for a time of 15 years.