Virgin Orbit, the California-based responsive launch company, announced today it has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will expand its relationship with SatRevolution, the low-cost small satellite manufacturer and space services company based in Wrocław, Poland. The new agreement, which comes as two SatRevolution satellites are in the final countdown for launch on Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne system, lays the groundwork for the launch of hundreds of additional satellites as well as the joint development of integrated mission services, and other potential areas of collaboration.
SatRevolution’s first two STORK satellites are fully integrated into a LauncherOne rocket slated to launch to orbit from the Mojave Air and Space Port as soon as tomorrow morning. Per the MOU, SatRevolution has selected Virgin Orbit to support multiple additional missions to space each year through 2026, as the company works to develop and populate its “constellation of constellations,” including its STORK constellation and other potential constellations for Internet of Things (IOT) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) applications.
Further expanding the two companies’ strategic partnership, Virgin Orbit and SatRevolution will also explore ways to streamline the broader space value chain for small satellites. These joint offerings could include hosted payload services on LauncherOne, turnkey solutions for rapid deployment of space services, and more.
Additionally, Virgin Orbit and SatRevolution will actively seek ways to further cultivate Poland’s rapidly growing space industry, such as pursuing new opportunities for in-country launch and mission services. Virgin Orbit and SatRevolution will also continue to collaborate alongside several of Poland’s top research universities as part of the Polish Mission to Mars consortium, which is working to develop a series of missions to the Red Planet.
SatRevolution co-founder and CEO Grzegorz Zwoliński said: “This new agreement is the best thing that could happen to SatRevolution. The cooperation with Virgin Orbit will confirm SatRevolution both as a center of the Polish NewSpace industry and as a rapidly growing player in the global market. Both of our companies share the same desire to make space more accessible and therefore closer cooperation is the next natural step.”
Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart commented: “We enjoy a fantastic relationship with the folks at SatRevolution, as our two companies are well-aligned in our aspirations to drive forward the small satellite revolution. The Virgin Orbit team is excited about the opportunity to further our strategic partnership with Grzegorz and his team to collaborate, expand our offerings and make the benefits of space more accessible for people in Poland, in the U.S. and around the world.”
Takeoff for Virgin Orbit’s Tubular Bells: Part One mission is currently targeted for 6 AM – 8 AM Pacific (13:00 – 15:00 UTC) on Wednesday, June 30th. The mission will be livestreamed on company’s YouTube channel.
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ABOUT VIRGIN ORBIT
Virgin Orbit builds and operates the most flexible and responsive satellite launcher ever invented: LauncherOne, a dedicated launch service for commercial and government-built small satellites. LauncherOne rockets are designed and manufactured in Long Beach, California, and are air-launched from our modified 747-400 carrier aircraft — allowing us to operate from locations all over the world in order to best serve each customer’s needs. To learn more or to apply to join Virgin Orbit’s talented and growing team, visit virginorbit.com.
ABOUT SATREVOLUTION
SatRevolution is a Polish company established in 2016 to develop a real-time Earth Observation constellation and become the largest worldwide operator of EO satellites. The Company aims to deliver 1,024 nanosatellites to the Low Earth Orbit by 2026 to provide round-the-clock Earth Observation, complete manufacturing and management of the satellites, as well as compliance monitoring, and on-site engineering consulting. For more, please visit satrevolution.com.
